He shrugged his fine shoulders, and on his
comelyface came an _expression_ of surprised disgust. Somehow you must be off before
dawn and make for Yondermouth, whereyou will be safe.
He had no mind to havehis private chamber treated
as a taproom. So the second night came and I was still without hope. Iremembered the
tears I had seen in her eyes, and the shadow ofterror.
He raced up thestream side, with only his ears to
tell him of the pursuit. Sir Turnour drew from the pocket of his greatcoat a silver
flask. From Cottle I had directions for the road, so without an hoursdelay I posted
north.
Hewas bareheaded, dressed roughly in country style,
and he had a penstuck behind his ear. Doubt, recognition, and doubt againwere in the
baronets eyes.
A smallwhitish face, and a kind of thin gentry
nose. I waited till the airwas thick with drizzle, so that a man could not see a
yard, andthen ventured.
I slipped from him, staggered along theshelf till I
found open ground, and then breasted the hill.
There wordreached me that the Cranmers had gone to
Northumberland.
In spite of himself Sir Turnours interest
wasawakened.
When he had been assisted into his boots, Sir
Turnour buckled underhis coat a brace of pistols. You have chosen to idolise
thislady, and you have imagined her a martyr to add to her charms.
A fantastic suspicion entered Sir Turnours mind. He
laughed, butnot pleasantly; his laugh had discomfort in it, and fear, and asharp
anxiety.
It wants a lang spoon to sup kale wi the Deil, he
whisperedapologetically to Nanty. What friends had the lady other than myself? If
yestood in his road hed thraw your neck like a hens. Then the sky clouded and the
rain began more fiercely than ever. When he had been assisted into his boots, Sir
Turnour buckled underhis coat a brace of pistols.
Hell never see four-scoreagain, but hes a soople
body for his years. Yes, I fancied myself one, but God knows what theword
means!
But the earnestness of the young mans voice
impressed him in spiteof himself.
But I had notallowed for my ignorance of the
ground. I had thought that I was dealing with a gentleman. He would have nothing to
do with the whimsies of a romantichobbledehoy. No, my lord, I am too old and too
wise to interfere in domesticbrawls. Sir Turnour had awakened to a lively
interest.
Some time the morn Ive got to see Mrs Cranmer on a
small matter ofbusiness.
Already I feel a new man, but an empty one. The
rain had abated a little, and I could see perhaps fifty yardsaround me.