A Jacobite Exile | Page 4

altogether lack proof of my words, beyond that he has
added half a dozen farms to his estate, and, in each case, there were
complaints that, although there was nothing contrary to the law, it was
by sharp practice that he obtained possession, lending money freely in
order to build houses and fences and drains, and then, directly a pinch
came, demanding the return of his advance.
"Such ways may pass in a London usurer, but they don't do for us
country folk; and each farm that he has taken has closed the doors of a
dozen good houses to John Dormay. I fear that Celia has a bad time
with him, though she is not one to complain. I let Charlie go over to
Rockley, much oftener than I otherwise should do, for her sake and

Ciceley's, though I would rather, a hundred times, that they should
come here. Not that the visits are pleasant, when they do come, for I
can see that Celia is always in fear, lest I should ask her questions
about her life at home; which is the last thing that I should think of
doing, for no good ever comes of interference between man and wife,
and, whatever I learned, I could not quarrel with John Dormay without
being altogether separated from Celia and the girl.
"I am heartily glad that Charlie has given Alured a sound thrashing.
The boy is too modest. He only said a few words, last evening, about
the affair, and I thought that only a blow or two had been exchanged. It
was as much as I could do, not to rub my hands and chuckle, when his
father told me all about it. However, I must speak gravely to Charlie. If
he takes it up, every time a Whig speaks scornfully of the king, he will
be always in hot water, and, were he a few years older, would become a
marked man. We have got to bide our time, and, except among friends,
it is best to keep a quiet tongue until that time comes."
To Sir Marmaduke's disappointment, three more years went on without
the position changing in any Way. Messengers went and came between
France and the English Jacobites, but no movement was made. The
failure of the assassination plot had strengthened William's hold on the
country, for Englishmen love fair play and hate assassination, so that
many who had, hitherto, been opponents of William of Orange, now
ranged themselves on his side, declaring they could no longer support a
cause that used assassination as one of its weapons. More zealous
Jacobites, although they regretted the assassination plot, and were as
vehement of their denunciations of its authors as were the Whigs,
remained staunch in their fidelity to "the king over the water,"
maintaining stoutly that his majesty knew nothing whatever of this foul
plot, and that his cause was in no way affected by the misconduct of a
few men, who happened to be among its adherents.
At Lynnwood things went on as usual. Charlie continued his studies, in
a somewhat desultory way, having but small affection for books; kept
up his fencing lesson diligently and learned to dance; quarrelled
occasionally with his cousin Alured, spent a good deal of his time on

horseback, and rode over, not unfrequently, to Rockley, choosing, as
far as possible, the days and hours when he knew that Alured and his
father were likely to be away. He went over partly for his own pleasure,
but more in compliance with his father's wishes.
"My cousin seldom comes over, herself," the latter said. "I know, right
well, that it is from no slackness of her own, but that her husband likes
not her intimacy here. It is well, then, that you should go over and see
them, for it is only when you bring her that I see Ciceley. I would she
were your sister, lad, for she is a bright little maid, and would make the
old house lively."
Therefore, once a week or so, Charlie rode over early too Rockley,
which was some five miles distant, and brought back Ciceley, cantering
on her pony by his side, escorting her home again before nightfall.
Ciceley's mother wondered, sometimes, that her husband, who in most
matters set his will in opposition to hers, never offered any objection to
the girl's visits to Lynnwood. She thought that, perhaps, he was pleased
that there should be an intimacy between some member, at least, of his
family, and Sir Marmaduke's. There were so few houses at which he or
his were welcome, it was pleasant to him to be able to refer to the close
friendship of his daughter with their cousins at Lynnwood. Beyond this,
Celia, who often, as she sat alone,