A Jacobite Exile | Page 6

ought to tell you, Charlie. You know my father
does not think the same way as yours about things."
"I should rather think he doesn't," Charlie laughed. "There is no secret
about that, Ciceley; but they don't quarrel over it. Last time your father
and mother came over here, I dined with them for the first time, and I
noticed there was not a single word said about politics. They chatted
over the crops, and the chances of a war in Europe, and of the quarrel
between Holstein and Denmark, and whether the young king of Sweden
would aid the duke, who seems to be threatened by Saxony as well as
by Denmark. I did not know anything about it, and thought it was
rather stupid; but my father and yours both seemed of one mind, and
were as good friends as if they were in equal agreement on all other
points. But what has that to do with Nicholson, for that is the man's

name who came out just now?"
"It does not seem to have much to do with it," she said doubtfully, "and
yet, perhaps it does. You know my mother is not quite of the same
opinion as my father, although she never says so to him; but, when we
are alone together, sometimes she shakes her head and says she fears
that trouble is coming, and it makes her very unhappy. One day I was
in the garden, and they were talking loudly in the dining room--at least,
he was talking loudly. Well, he said--But I don't know whether I ought
to tell you, Charlie."
"Certainly you ought not, Ciceley. If you heard what you were not
meant to hear, you ought never to say a word about it to anyone."
"But it concerns you and Sir Marmaduke."
"I cannot help that," he said stoutly. "People often say things of each
other, in private, especially if they are out of temper, that they don't
quite mean, and it would make terrible mischief if such things were
repeated. Whatever your father said, I do not want to hear it, and it
would be very wrong of you to repeat it."
"I am not going to repeat it, Charlie. I only want to say that I do not
think my father and yours are very friendly together, which is natural,
when my father is all for King William, and your father for King James.
He makes no secret of that, you know."
Charlie nodded.
"That is right enough, Ciceley, but still, I don't understand in the least
what it has to do with the servant."
"It has to do with it," she said pettishly, starting the swing afresh, and
then relapsing into silence until it again came to a standstill.
"I think you ought to know," she said suddenly. "You see, Charlie, Sir
Marmaduke is very kind to me, and I love him dearly, and so I do you,
and I think you ought to know, although it may be nothing at all."

"Well, fire away then, Ciceley. There is one thing you may be quite
sure of, whatever you tell me, it is like telling a brother, and I shall
never repeat it to anyone."
"Well, it is this. That man comes over sometimes to see my father. I
have seen him pass my window, three or four times, and go in by the
garden door into father's study. I did not know who he was, but it did
seem funny his entering by that door, as if he did not want to be seen
by anyone in the house. I did not think anything more about it, till I saw
him just now, then I knew him directly. If I had seen him before, I
should have told you at once, but I don't think I have."
"I daresay not, Ciceley. He does not wait at table, but is under the
steward, and helps clean the silver. He waits when we have several
friends to dinner. At other times he does not often come into the room.
"What you tell me is certainly curious. What can he have to say to your
father?"
"I don't know, Charlie. I don't know anything about it. I do think you
ought to know."
"Yes, I think it is a good thing that I should know," Charlie agreed
thoughtfully. "I daresay it is all right, but, at any rate, I am glad you
told me."
"You won't tell your father?" she asked eagerly. "Because, if you were
to speak of it--"
"I shall not tell him. You need not be afraid that what you have told me
will come out. It is curious, and that is all, and I will look after the
fellow a bit. Don't think anything more about