Crown and Sceptre Part 37

"I expected to hear you say that, but I shall soon be older; and, though I am only a boy, I could be useful to you in a hundred ways. I suppose I am too young to fight."

"Yes, yes; of course."

"Well, others could do the fighting. Couldn't you make me something-- your esquire?"

"Knights do not have esquires now, my boy," said Sir G.o.dfrey, with a smile; "but--"

He stopped short, while his son gazed at him eagerly, waiting for the end of his speech.

"Yes, father--but--?" said Scarlett, after waiting some time.

"I was only thinking, my son, as to which was my duty--to bid you watch over your mother and sister here, or to devote you to the service of your king."

"Devote me to the service of my king, father," cried Scarlett, proudly.

"No, no, my boy," cried Lady Markham. "Don't try to stop me, mother,"

said Scarlett. "You know I should have to stay here in peace to take care of you who are not in danger; but ought you not rather wish to have me trying to watch over him who will be in the war?"

Lady Markham bowed her head. She could not trust herself to speak, for her son's words had set his going in a new light. But she still hesitated, clinging first to father, then to son, and ending by exclaiming--

"Heaven's will be done! I can say no more."

"No, mother. Let me go, and I will do all I can to protect my father."

She gazed piteously at him through her tears, and then cast herself sobbing upon his breast, while Sir G.o.dfrey gravely set his daughter by her mother's side, and laid his hand upon her head.

"Scarlett is right, dearest. He can do more good by embracing his father's profession at once. He will learn to be a soldier, and-- perhaps--he may be able to protect me. Who can tell!"

Lady Markham took and kissed her husband's hand, and then once more embraced her son, ending by taking her daughter to her heart, and weeping over her silently, while Sir G.o.dfrey paced the room.

"Yes, my boy?" he said suddenly, as he caught his son's eye.

"When shall you start, father?"

"To-morrow at the latest. Quite early in the morning, if we can get away."

"So soon?"

"Yes. Have you begun to repent already?"

"Oh no, father; but I thought that I should like to go over to the Manor to say good-bye."

Sir G.o.dfrey held up his hand.

"Impossible, my boy. By the same despatch I learned that Colonel Forrester--unhappy man!--has cast in his lot with the Roundheads. I am told, too, that he has been harbouring one of the enemy's generals, who has been about the country organising revolt against his majesty, under the name of Captain Miles. Scarlett, my boy, the Forresters are the enemies of the king, and therefore ours."

"Poor Fred!" said Scarlett, half aloud.

"Ay, poor Fred!" said Sir G.o.dfrey. "Do you think it possible that you could save him from this fate by bringing him over to us? He is your friend, Scarlett?"

"Yes, father, but--"

"Yes, my boy, you are right. It would be a cowardly deed to try and separate father and son. Would it were otherwise, for I like the boy."

"Like him, father? It seems horrible; just as if one was losing a brother, and could not stretch out a hand. And you would not like me to say good-bye to Fred, father?"

"You cannot now, my boy; neither while he is against us can I take Colonel Forrester's hand again."

There was a painful pause here, broken by Lady Markham's sobs; and then, with a sudden display of soldierly firmness, Sir G.o.dfrey bent down and kissed his wife.

"Come, my darling," he said, "remember your duty as the wife and mother of two soldiers suddenly called away."

"I'll try," said Lady Markham, rising sadly.

"And succeed," replied Sir G.o.dfrey, gently. "Come, Scarlett, my boy.

Time flies. You will choose which horse you like, and prepare the very few necessaries that you can carry. We shall get our equipment at Exeter, so work hard, as if you momentarily expected to hear the trumpet call, 'To horse.' Why, it stirs my blood again, after all these years of idleness. That's better, my darling. Women should not weep when those they love are about to leave on duty, but give them smiles."

"Smiles, G.o.dfrey!" said Lady Markham, sadly.

"Yes, smiles. Every soldier who goes to fight does not get hard blows or wounds. Many escape everything, and come back covered with glory and full of the sense of duty done. There, Scarlett, my boy, away with you and pack your valise. Recollect you are a soldier now."

Scarlett dashed at his mother, kissed her, and then, bewildered by excitement, he hurried out to go to the stable and select the horse he might need to carry him in many a perilous time; but before he reached the long range of buildings where Sir G.o.dfrey's horses led their peaceful life, he was attacked by Nat.

"Here, Master Scar," he cried excitedly, catching the lad by the sleeve, "is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"That the war's coming nigher our way, and they've sent for the master to fight?"

"Yes, Nat; true enough," said the lad, proudly drawing himself up. "Sir G.o.dfrey and I are going off to the wars to-morrow morning."

"You, Master Scar? You?"

"Yes, Nat; to-morrow."

"Why, dear heart alive, Master Scar, lad," cried Nat, laying his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder, "it seems only t'other day as you used to come and coax me to leave my mowing and go on hands and knees to make a horse for you to ride, and now you're talking about going to the war."

"Yes, Nat. Time goes."

"But, dear lad," cried the gardener, letting his hand slide down to Scarlett's biceps, "why, you haven't got the muscle in your arm to handle a scythe, let alone a sword to mow down men."

"I can't help that, Nat," cried Scarlett, angrily. "Let go. There'll be muscle enough to thrash you some day."

"I hope so, dear lad. But try and thrash brother Samson first. I should like to see you do that."

"Don't talk nonsense. And come along. I want to look at the horses."

"But are you really going, Master Scar?"