Slain By The Doones | Page 7

were sent to conduct the Doones thither.
"I am not severe; I think well of mankind," he went on, as I looked at
him meekly; "perhaps because I am one of them. You are very young,
my dear, and unable to form much opinion as yet. But let it be your rule
of life ever to keep an open mind."
This advice impressed me much, though I could not see clearly what it
meant. But the sun was going beyond Exmoor now, and safe as I felt
with so good an old man, a long, lonely walk was before me. So I took
up my basket and rose to depart, saying, "Good-bye, sir; I am much in
your debt for your excellent advice and kindness."
He looked at me most benevolently, and whatever may be said of him
hereafter, I shall always believe that he was a good man, overcome
perhaps by circumstances, yet trying to make the best of them. He has
now become a by-word as a hypocrite and a merciless self-seeker. But
many young people, who met him as I did, without possibility of
prejudice, hold a larger opinion of him. And surely young eyes are the

brightest.
"I will protect thee, my dear," he said, looking capable in his great
width and wisdom of protecting all the host of heaven. "I have
protected a maiden even more beautiful than thou art. But now she hath
unwisely fled from us. Our young men are thoughtless, but they are not
violent, at least until they are sadly provoked. Your father was a brave
man, and much to be esteemed. My brother, the mildest man that ever
lived, hath ridden down hundreds of Roundheads with him. Therefore
thou shalt come to no harm. But he should not have fallen upon our
young men as if they were rabble of the Commonwealth."
Upon these words I looked at him I know not how, so great was the
variance betwixt my ears and eyes. Then I tried to say something, but
nothing would come, so entire was my amazement.
"Such are the things we have ever to contend with," he continued, as if
to himself, with a smile of compassion at my prejudice. "Nay, I am not
angry; I have seen so much of this. Right and wrong stand fast, and
cannot be changed by any facundity. But time is short, and will soon be
stirring. Have a backway from thy bedroom, child. I am Councillor
Doone; by birthright and in right of understanding, the captain of that
pious family, since the return of the good Sir Ensor to the land where
there are no lies. So long as we are not molested in our peaceful valley,
my will is law; and I have ordered that none shall go near thee. But a
mob of country louts are drilling in a farmyard up the moorlands, to
plunder and destroy us, if they can. We shall make short work of them.
But after that, our youths may be provoked beyond control, and sally
forth to make reprisal. They have their eyes on thee, I know, and thy
father hath assaulted us. An ornament to our valley thou wouldst be;
but I would reproach myself if the daughter of my brother's friend were
discontented with our life. Therefore have I come to warn thee, for
there are troublous times in front. Have a back-way from thy bedroom,
child, and slip out into the wood if a noise comes in the night."
Before I could thank him, he strode away, with a step of no small
dignity, and as he raised his pointed hat, the western light showed
nothing fairer or more venerable than the long wave of his silver locks.

CHAPTER IV.
--A COTTAGE HOSPITAL.
Master Pring was not much of a man to talk. But for power of thought
he was considered equal to any pair of other men, and superior of
course to all womankind. Moreover, he had seen a good deal of
fighting, not among outlaws, but fine soldiers well skilled in the proper
style of it. So that it was impossible for him to think very highly of the
Doones. Gentlemen they might be, he said, and therefore by nature well
qualified to fight. But where could they have learned any discipline,
any tactics, any knowledge of formation, or even any skill of sword or
firearms? "Tush, there was his own son, Bob, now serving under
Captain Purvis, as fine a young trooper as ever drew sword, and
perhaps on his way at this very moment, under orders from the Lord
Lieutenant, to rid the country of that pestilent race. Ah, ha! We soon
shall see!"
And in truth we did see him, even sooner than his own dear mother had