No statesman has a rightto risk these fortunes
unless he be reasonably assured of success. Not a second must I lose inpushing north
to join my Prince.
I brought you here for a purpose, sir, she said. I
landed from France only three weeksback, and know little of Mr Secretary Murrays
plans.
He had a moment ofsuffocation, until he regained
his humour.
Its a noble-hearted creature, and we would all be
better if we were liker him.
Then, my lord, it is a strife of foreigner against
foreigner. He caught Lord Cornburys eye and marked itsgentle sadness.
He can cross the Border with not less than five
thousand horse andfoot. Mr Kyd, rosy as the dawn, hastened toplace chairs. The
company stared, and Sir Christopher tittered.
Tell me, sir, have you not publishedcertain
writings? Ido not live in Sir Watkins county, where you can blow a horn andsummon a
hundred rascals. The young man flung himself into a chair, and collected
histhoughts.
Many Presbyterians of the straitest sect are in his
camp.
The last seemed to feel the irony,for behind his
hospitable gaiety was a sharp edge of care. Jamess among the wits, but has no notion
of spoiling his sleep bypotations among bumpkins.
His Highness would havemade a bee-line for
Newcastle.
May I beg the favour of alight to the
stable?
Wewill surprise Kit Lacy in his cups, but there
will be some remnantsof supper for this fellow.
As Alastair gazed at the scene he saw again his own
country-side. Losh, the beasts foundered, andthe mans in a dwam. Wade isold and
doited, but he will soon have Cumberland behind him.
More than half the clans are still to raise. Many
are no doubtwilling to drink His Royal Highnesss health. When the candles were lit
and the curtains drawn the scene grewlivelier. But the poor mans mind was far from
humour, forhis earnestness increased with his hearers cynicism.
She whipped up the ponies and her voice changed to
its oldlightness.
The man was too earnest to feel the rudeness of the
question. The nation isindifferent and will yield to boldness. We were birched
togetherat Eton, and dwelt in the same stairway at Christ Church. Alastair
hadknowledge enough of men to recognise finality.
You think only of your pride, sir, and not of the
poor girl.
The hour is late and a bed isat your
disposal.
Let us inquireinto the errand of this
night-rider.
The ice was clearly too thin, and the most heedless
feltthe need of wary walking.
To Alastair, absorbed in his errand, the scene was
purelyphantasmal.
Then my Christianity falls short of yours, sir,
replied LordCornbury sharply.
His connectionwith my brother is a good shield.