Orange and Green | Page 4

when her son and Jabez grew to man's estate, at
about the same period, they necessarily at times crossed each other's
paths; and as in them the prejudices and enmities of their elders were
somewhat softened, they would, when they met on the road, exchange a
passing nod or a brief "Good morning."
Another generation still, and the boys of the two houses met as friends.
Thanks to his mother's successful rebellion, John Whitefoot grew up a
hearty, healthy boy, with a bright eye, a merry laugh, and a frank, open
bearing.
"One would think," his grandfather remarked angrily one day, as the
boy went out, whistling gaily, to fetch in a young colt Jabez was about

to break, "that John was the son of a malignant, or one of the men of
Charles Stuart, rather than of a God-fearing tiller of the soil."
"So long as he fears God, and walks in the right way, he is none the
worse for that, father," Jabez said stoutly; "and even you would hardly
say that his mother has failed in her teachings in that respect. I do not
know that, so long as one has the words of Scripture in his heart, he is
any the better for having them always on his lips; in other respects, I
regret not that the boy should have a spirit and a fire which I know I
lack myself. Who can say what may yet take place here! The Stuarts
are again upon the throne, and, with James's leaning towards Papacy,
there is no saying whether, some day, all the lands which Cromwell
divided among his soldiers may not be restored to their original
possessors, and in that case our sons may have to make their way in
other paths of life than ours; and, if it be so, John will assuredly be
more likely to make his way than I should have done."
"We would never surrender, save with our lives, what our swords have
won. We will hold the inheritance which the Lord has given us," the
old man said fiercely.
"Yes, father; and so said those whose lands we have inherited. So said
Walter Davenant, of whose lands we are possessed. It will be as God
wills it. He has given to us the lands of others, and it may be that he
will take them away again. The times have changed, father, and the
manners; and I am well pleased to see that John, while I am sure he is
as true to the faith as I am myself, will take broader and, perhaps,
happier views of life than I have done."
Zephaniah gave a snort of displeasure. He grieved continually at the
influence which his daughter-in-law exercised over her son, and which
now extended clearly to her husband; but Jabez was now a man of
five-and-forty, and had lately shown that, in some respects at least, he
intended to have his way, while Zephaniah himself, though still erect
and strong, was well-nigh eighty.
"Remember, Jabez," he said, "that it goes hard with those who, having
set their hands to the plough, turn aside."

"I shall not turn aside, father," Jabez said quietly. "I have gone too long
along a straight furrow to change now; but I am not ill pleased that my
son should have a wider scope. I trust and believe that he will drive his
furrow as straight as we have done, although it may not be exactly in
the same line."
But neither Zephaniah nor old Mrs. Davenant knew that their respective
grandsons had made friends, although both the boys' fathers knew, and
approved of it, although for somewhat different reasons.
"The Whitefoot boy," Mr. Davenant had said to his wife, "is, I fancy
from what I have seen of him, of a different type to his father and
grandfather. I met him the other day when I was out, and he spoke as
naturally and outspokenly as Walter himself. He seems to have got rid
of the Puritanical twang altogether. At any rate, he will do Walter no
harm; and, indeed, I should say that there was a solid good sense about
him, which will do Master Walter, who is somewhat disposed to be a
madcap, much good. Anyhow, he is a better companion for the boy
than the lads down in the village; and there is no saying, wife, how
matters may go in this unhappy country. It may be that we may come to
our own again. It may be that we may lose what is left to us. Anyhow,
it can do no harm to Walter that he should have, as a friend, one in the
opposite camp."
Somewhat similar was the talk between Hannah and Jabez, although, in
their case, the wife was