Hayslope Grange | Page 2

"I am not your sister," said Maud, hardly knowing what to say.
"Oh, Maud," muttered little Bessie, "Harry is as much your brother as
he is mine. Why, you have lived with us all your life, and if your name
does happen to be Maud Harcourt instead of Maud Drury, it does not

matter. I'm sure you can love Harry just the same."
"Yes, so I can," said Maud, smiling, and feeling greatly relieved by
Bessie's little passionate outburst.
But Harry looked rather disappointed still.
"I am afraid my return is not very welcome to you, Maud," he said, as
he placed himself at her side to walk towards the house.
"Why?" she said, quickly, in a tone of pain.
"I don't know, only you don't seem glad to see me this time. You did
not come to meet me as the others did," replied Harry.
Maud looked down, but did not answer; and indeed there was no
opportunity to do so, for Bertram, thinking he had been neglected long
enough, pressed forward to his brother's side.
"Have you seen Prince Rupert, Harry?" he asked.
The young man's brow grew dark at the question. "Don't ask about
Prince Rupert, Bertie," he said.
"Why not?" exclaimed the boy. "He's a great soldier, come to fight the
King's battles against the wicked Parliament men. Do tell me about
him?" he added, coaxingly.
"Harry will tell us all by-and-by," said Mary. "You must remember, he
has not seen father yet. Let us make haste indoors," she added, turning
to Harry, who still kept close to Maud.
But Bertram was determined not to miss hearing of Prince Rupert's
valorous deeds, and fearing this account would be given to his father
alone, he took his brother's hand, resolving to keep close to him. Prince
Rupert's name, however, was not mentioned, and indeed Harry seemed
strangely reserved in speaking of public affairs; and, as soon as he
could get away, wandered off to a copse-like corner of the garden,
where he stayed until he was summoned to prayers, late in the evening.

He looked pale and agitated as he came in. The family were all
assembled--his father at the head of the table, with the Bible open
before him, and the maid-servants and serving-men at the other end of
the room; and Harry felt that every eye was upon him as he took his
accustomed place.
After the chapter was read they all knelt down, and then any one might
know how deeply and truly Master Drury loved his King, although he
rarely spoke of it at any other time. Now, however, the man's whole
soul was poured out before God in impassioned pleading for his royal
master, while his hatred of the Parliament and those who were leading
the rebellion could only find expression in the words of David against
his enemies. A deep "Amen" followed, uttered by every one in the
room except Harry,--an omission that was noticed by more than one
present.
"Harry was asleep," whispered Bessie, who had had some difficulty in
keeping her own eyes open.
Maud, to whom this was confided, did not contradict the little girl, but
she knew it was not so, and she wondered why Harry had not
responded to what everybody must wish for, she thought--at least every
true Englishman. No one saw anything of Harry after he left the room
that night, and Maud did not see him until the following afternoon. She
thought he was offended with her, and that this was the reason he kept
away from everybody, and when she saw him leaning on the fence of
the farm-yard, she determined to go and speak to him.
"I'm very sorry, Harry, if I have offended you," she said, as she drew
near the spot.
Harry started. "Maud, Maud, what shall I do?" he said, impulsively,
turning towards her and taking her hand.
Maud was only a year younger than himself, but she could not help
feeling alarmed at his words.
"What is the matter?" she said. "Prithee, tell me all about what is

troubling you."
But Harry shook his head, and tried to smile away her fears. "I have
been wishing to be a chicken, and by my faith I do wish it too," he said.
"Marry, that is an old wish of mine," said Maud, trying to smile, but
looking down as the colour stole into her cheeks.
"You wish to be a chicken!" uttered Harry in astonishment. "By my
troth, I did not think you were so foolish, Maud."
"And wherefore not, wise sir? since you would nathless enter
chickenhood."
But instead of replying in the same gay, bantering tone, Harry sighed
deeply, and, still holding her hand, drew her into the field.
"It is quite true, Maud," he said. "I was actually