Dramatic Technique Part 60

And when the door was opened, this persevering applicant proved to be only the boy Bill Lampeter, who was known at White-oaks as at Crowe Hall, and a score of country Granges beside. He did but crave a drink of milk and a bit to eat, he said. He had been a-foot all day, and had had nought to eat; and seeing a light burning in the houseplace, he made bold to knock and ask for what he needed.

The boy's breath was short and hurried, and his grimy face was pale and damp with toil of hard running. He did not seek to enter, but kept glancing over his shoulder into the darkness behind him.

Beatrice sent Patty for food and drink, standing still herself in the doorway; and the maid was no sooner gone than the boy drew nearer and spoke.

"Oh, mistress," he said, hoa.r.s.ely, "I have been beat to-night--but I told 'em nought. The corporal he raddled my bones terrible--but I set my teeth, and I told 'un nought. I bit him when he took they s.h.i.+ning white things o' yourn, wi' the writing; them as I could not give to Mr. Cope, the day I warned the porter at Goodrest that the red-coats was upon 'em. I had the white things safe, mistress, hid in my smock"--(he put his hand to his breast, where the rough garment he wore was heavily quilted and closely drawn).--"And I would ha' giv'

them to Mr. Cope, the first chance I got--I would, honest and true.

But the scouting party caught me; and they says, 'Thee be allays running from one Grange to another, thee little ne'er-do-weel; thee can tell us what we wants to know about Goodrest in the hills'--And I was telling of 'em just what tales comed into my head, for fear of unpleasantness, mistress, when the corporal, a great rough chap, seizes hold of me, and says, says he, ''Tis all a pack o' lies, this here. Search him,' he says, 'and see if he carries messages or tokens.' And then I fought and bit, for I know'd they'd find your bright things in my smock; and I bit his hand nigh upon through, that I did," said Bill, with grim satisfaction, and an oath at which poor Beatrice shuddered.

"Oh, hus.h.!.+" she said. "There is no help in swearing, boy."

"_He_ swore," Bill replied. "But when he got the tablets, he were fine and pleased. And he said, 'This is a stag of ten, my boys; and should he snuff the breeze too soon we have means to keep him where he is till morning. Hold that little viper fast,' says he,'and for your lives don't let him give us the slip.'--So one of the troopers took me behind him on his horse, with a rope round my body, drawn cruel tight at first. And I panted and groaned, and made as though he were killing of me; and after a bit he slacked the rope a little, so as I could put my head down and gnaw it through in the dark. And at the dip of a valley, where the shadow was deep under the trees, I slipped off quiet-like into the long gra.s.s. He knew the rope was loose in a minute, and he snapped his pistol; but the covert was good, and I crope into the heart of a holler tree covered o'er wi' ivy. I bided there, till they was tired o' hunting round.--But oh, mistress, the poor gentleman at Goodrest is undone!--They talked together while the trooper was making me fast upon his horse; and I heard a word now and again, for I listened with all my might. There were but four of 'em; and they said they weren't strong enough to surprise Goodrest, but must ride back to quarters for help. And as we went past Grantford Farm, the corporal called a halt; and one held his horse while he went in and spoke with the farmer. And, mistress, Hugh Stone of Grantford is known for a bitter Whig. ...And presently Hugh of Grantford comes out, and his little brother with him; and the boy had that as you wrote upon--that as they took from me--in his hand. And the corporal says, looking over his shoulder quick and short, 'Does he understand?'

says he. 'Oh, aye,' says Hugh of Grantford, 'he understands fine.' And I could see wee Jock did not like the job he were put upon; and I made a face at him from ahint the trooper's back, and he liked it less nor ever then."

"What job, Bill?"

Bill Lampeter looked in amazement at this beautiful, terrified lady, who did not understand.

"Don't 'ee see?" he said. "Jock o' Grantford were to take your writing to Goodrest, and play upon the gentleman there, to keep him biding till the red-coats come. What were it as you wrote down that day, mistress?"

As in a flash of painful memory Beatrice saw the dainty tablets once more, with words traced upon them in a hand rendered somewhat unsteady by the slow pace of the sorrel horse--a hand unmistakable, however, to the eyes of Charlie Cope.

I pray you, do not stir far from home. There is risk abroad.

B.C.

She understood then; and she turned quickly to Patty Joyce, who had come back bringing bread and milk ere Bill's tale was half done. Bill, even in the eagerness of his disclosure, had clutched the bread and cheese; and now he drained the mug of milk, while the good-natured maid stood open-mouthed, her eyes fixed upon Mistress Beatrice.

"Patty," the young lady whispered, "I think you are faithful and true.... I must trust you with a perilous secret. This gentleman whom they seek at Goodrest is my only brother; he has papers of importance in his keeping, and a warrant is out for his arrest. They will lure him to his destruction by means of me, his sister; he knows my handwriting and will trust to my warning. He will lie close at Goodrest, as a hare upon her form; and they will take him--oh! they will take him prisoner!--ere morning dawns. I must to Goodrest now, in the dark night.--Boy! is there time? is there time?"

Bill Lampeter nodded, munching his bread.

"They'll not be back afore the dawning, them troopers," he said.

"They've limed the twig, ye see; the bird is made fast. If Mr. Cope do hear the country's up, he'll bide where he be there at Goodrest, reckoning 'tis safest to keep still. Between now and the first streak as shows over the Black Scaur, mistress, you can do as you will."

"Eh, Mistress Beatrice, you can't never go," said Patty, trembling.

"You couldn't dare to do it. And this here boy," she whispered, standing close to Mistress Beatrice, "is a very proverb for wicked story-telling. 'Tis a naughty little varlet; who knows that he has not been set on to bring this tale?"

"'Tis true enough, though I be a story-teller," said Bill, whose ears were sharp. "Yon gentleman at Goodrest has need of thee the night, mistress. And now let me lie down on the straw in the big barn, for my bones do ache, and I be dizzy wi' running."

He caught at the doorpost as he spoke; and Patty Joyce's suspicion vanished in pity for the worn-out creature. She kindled a flame to light the lanthorn which hung in the houseplace; and herself crossed the wide courtyard to make Bill a comfortable resting-place in the soft hay and clean straw which filled the great barn.[26]

This is the same scene in the play:

(_Louder rapping. Trembling with rage and disappointment, Sandiland disappears down the path. Beatrice stands a moment, looking as if waking from a nightmare._)

_Patty._ (_Outside, rapping more._) Miss Beatrice, Miss Beatrice!

Quick!

_Beatrice._ (_Crossing dazedly to door. By it, dully._) Who?

_Patty._ Open quick. Me and Bill.

_Beat._ (_Recovering._) Bill!

(_Quickly she unbolts the door. Patty enters, half supporting Bill.

She looks about as if surprised at not seeing any one beside Beatrice. Bill's clothes are torn and he is covered with dirt. There is blood on his hands where cords have torn the flesh. He looks white and wretched and breathes hard as if from recent running. He should play the whole scene with nervous excitement that suggests a collapse at the end of it._)

_Bill._ (_Apologetically, as he stumbles toward Beatrice._) I've had a bit of a sc.r.a.p. (_Aside to Beatrice._) Get rid o' 'er.

_Beat._ You can trust her. What has happened?

_Bill._ Scoutin' party got me. Corporal raddled my bones terrible when I fought and bit, fearin' they'd find your message hid in my smock.

They near tore it off, d.a.m.n 'em.

_Beat._ You have the tablets?

_Bill._ No.

_Beat._ They have them? (_With relief._) Then they haven't reached James!

_Bill._ The gentleman? Oh, ay. When we come to Grantford Farm--I were trussed up be'ind a trooper--Corporal called out little Jock o'

Grantford--his fayther's a bitter Whig--and bade 'im take your message to Goodrest, to keep the gentleman waitin' till the red coats be come.

_Beat._ (_To Patty._) Where's Grizel?

_Patty._ In the paddock'm. But--

_Beat._ Saddle her at once. I must to Goodrest. (_Patty hesitates._)

_Bill._ (_Menacingly as he reaches for a candle-stick._) She said--To once.

(_Unwillingly but quickly, Patty goes out centre._)

_Bill._ (_Pointing to the door where the full moon s.h.i.+nes in clearly._) Ay, but that ain't 'id yet.

_Beat._ (_As if struck by a sudden idea._) How did you get free?

_Bill._ Gnawed the ropes; slipped off in the long gra.s.s. Trooper's pistol missed me. Stayed in a holler oak I knows till they was tired 'untin'.

_Beat._ Knowing you are loose, they will start at once.

_Bill._ If they ain't fools. But most folks be. Risk somethin' on that. (_Beatrice is busy with her dress and cloak. He starts to help her but has to support himself by table._) Don't go through Whitecross Village. There the soldiers be. Take the footpath by Guiting; the bridge be shaky but 'twill hold.

(_Enter Patty, centre._)

_Patty._ Grizel's ready'm.

_Beat._ (_Nodding her understanding to Bill--to Patty._) Close up here. Look after Bill. Be ready to let me in when the first c.o.c.k crows. My stirrup! (_Goes out swiftly, followed protestingly by Patty.