THREE:Reuben began to attend the Tory candidate's meetings. Colonel MacDonald was not a local man, any more than Captain MacKinnon, but he had some property in the neighbourhood, down on the marsh by Becket's House. Like the other candidate, he had spent the last month or so in posting himself in local affairs, and came to Rye prepared, as he said, "to fight the election on herrings and sprats."
THREE:"So should I," said the girl in the embroidered frock"and I've been taking note of his clothes for our Earlscourt Morris Dancers."
THREE:"The rebels are betrayed, and you are condemned; but, if you will hearken to my request, this hour shall free you from prison:Will you, will you tell me of my lost child?"
THREE:
THREE:"Oh, I d?an't count thatthat's going to good earth."Calverley paused an instant. De Boteler and the baroness were in LondonDe Boteler, assisting in the councils of Richard, and Isabella, by reason of a vow, that, should there be again a probability of her becoming a mother, she would not trust the life of her child within the walls of Sudley castle;and he remembered the strict injunction his lord had given him in the case of the disinterment of Edith, not to presume to act again without his authority. He remembered also that he had been much dissatisfied with the result of father John's imprisonment, and also with the mode adopted for recovering Holgrave: but the present was a moment that would warrant decisive measuresso he proceeded to the door, and desired the retainers to follow on to Winchcombe, and seize the monk. But there was an evident unwillingness to obey: the name of John Ball had spread through the land, and there was so much of misty brightness encircling itso many strange stories were told of himso mysterious were often his appearings and disappearingsand so high was the veneration his novel doctrines inspiredthat even the lawless retainer shrank from periling his soul by molesting so sanctified a being. Besides, the former assault was not forgotten, with all the strange exaggerations which had seemed to render miraculous the circumstance of a handful of men liberating a prisoner.
THREE:"Remember, father John," he continued, pausing ere he unclosed the door, and speaking rapidly, "that mine is not the love of a boythat Thomas Calverley is not one whom it is safe to trifle withthat Margaret is a bondwomanand that her freedom is in my handsremember!"
THREE:"Become a bondman!" cried the smith, disappointed and mortified at the alternative: "Stephen, I would sooner die.""Ho, afeard of you, am I?and because you're a[Pg 205] youngster? I'll justabout show you wot a youngster's worth. A better man, are you?Put up your fists, and we'll see who's the better man."
THREE: