Red Cap Tales | Page 6

a real enchanted Castle of Silence, when in the distance he saw a figure
approaching up one of the green walks. There was something uncouth
and strange about the way the newcomer kept waving his hands over
his head--then, for no apparent reason, flapping them across his breast
like a groom on a frosty day, hopping all the time first on one foot and
then on the other. Tiring of this way of getting over the ground, he
would advance by standing leaps, keeping both feet together. The only
thing he seemed quite incapable of doing was to use his feet, one after
the other, as ordinary people do when they are walking. Indeed, this
strange guardian of the enchanted castle of Bradwardine looked like a
gnome or fairy dwarf. For he was clad in an old-fashioned dress of grey,
slashed with scarlet. On his legs were scarlet stockings and on his head
a scarlet cap, which in its turn was surmounted by a turkey's feather.
He came along dancing and singing in jerks and snatches, till, suddenly
looking up from the ground, he saw Edward. In an instant his red cap
was off, and he was bowing and saluting, and again saluting and
bowing, with, if possible, still more extravagant gestures than before.
Edward asked this curious creature if the Baron Bradwardine were at
home, and what was his astonishment to be instantly answered in
rhyme:
"The Knight's to the mountain His bugle to wind; The Lady's to
greenwood Her garland to bind. The bower of Burd Ellen Has moss on
the floor, That the step of Lord William, Be silent and sure."

This was impressive enough, surely; but, after all, it did not tell young
Captain what he wanted to know. So he continued to question the
strange wight, and finally, after eliciting many unintelligible sounds,
was able to make out the single word "butler."
[Illustration: "HE came along dancing and singing in jerks and snatches,
till, suddenly looking up from the ground, he saw Edward. In an instant
his red cap was off, and he was bowing and saluting, and again saluting
and bowing, with, if possible, still more extravagant gestures than
before."]
Pouncing upon this, Edward commanded the Unknown to lead him
instantly to the butler.
Nothing loath, the fool danced and capered on in front, and, at a turning
of the path, they found an old man, who seemed by his dress to be half
butler, half gardener, digging diligently among the flower beds. Upon
seeing Captain Waverley, he let drop his spade, undid his green apron,
frowning all the time at Edward's guide for bringing his master's guest
upon him without warning, to find him digging up the earth like a
common labourer. But the Bradwardine butler had an explanation
ready.
His Honour was with the folk, getting down the Black Hag (so he
confided to Edward). The two gardener lads had been ordered to attend
his Honour. So in order to amuse himself, he, the majordomo of
Bradwardine, had been amusing himself with dressing Miss Rose's
flower beds. It was but seldom that he found time for such like, though
personally he was very fond of garden work.
"He cannot get it wrought in more than two days a week, at no rate
whatever!" put in the scarecrow in the red cap and the turkey feather.
"Go instantly and find his Honour at the Black Hag," cried the
majordomo of Bradwardine, wrathful at this interference, "and tell him
that there is a gentleman come from England waiting him at the Hall."
"Can this poor fellow deliver a letter?" Edward asked doubtfully.

"With all fidelity, sir," said the butler, "that is, to any one whom he
respects. After all, he is more knave than fool. We call the innocent
Davie Dolittle, though his proper name is Davie Gellatley. But the truth
is, that since my young mistress, Miss Rose Bradwardine, took a fancy
to dress him up in fine clothes, the creature cannot be got to do a single
hand's turn of work. But here comes Miss Rose herself. Glad will she
be to welcome one of the name of Waverley to her father's house!"
III. THE BARON AND THE BEAR
Rose Bradwardine was still quite young. Scarce did the tale of her years
number seventeen, but already she was noted over all the countryside
as a pretty girl, with a skin like snow, and hair that glistened like pale
gold when the light fell upon it. Living so far from society, she was
naturally not a little shy. But as soon as her first feeling of bashfulness
was over, Rose spoke freely and brightly. Edward and she, however,
had but little time to be alone together. For it was not long before the
Baron of