Owing to the crowded state of the room some inconvenience was experienced by the dancers, and interruptions occasionally occurred; but, on the whole, the ball went off remarkably well, and was long afterwards remembered at Preston. Many ladies, then in their bloom, used to boast to their grand-daughters, that they had danced with the rebels in 1715, and they invariably added, “Never was seen such a fine set of young fellows.”
Amid that scene of gaiety and excitement, when all the young men yielded to the soft influence of beauty, few thought that vigorous preparations for attacking them were being made by their foes, and that within three days many of them would be slain, and the rest exiled. Had such thoughts intruded they would have been quickly banished.
But the revellers were not troubled by any such disagreeable reflections. Content with the enjoyment of the moment, they gave themselves no thought of the future. How could it be otherwise, when their general and most of their officers set them such an example!
But there was one person amid that thoughtless crowd who was oppressed with care, and felt the danger in which the invading army stood. He felt that, if this culpable indifference on the part of the general should continue, they were lost.
Of all that large assemblage which boasted the presence of so many Scottish nobles and gentlemen-so many wealthy English gentlemen-there was not one who had so much at stake as he.
As he looked at his lovely wife, who was then calling forth rapturous admiration in the Highland dance, and felt how soon he might lose her, he could scarcely repress the pang that crossed his breast.
But she seemed full of excitement, and when she came back to him with Dorothy, he strove to receive them with a smile.
Dorothy was not allowed much repose after her fatiguing dance. She was carried off by Charles Radclyffe, who since her arrival seemed to have fallen desperately in love with her. He told her that her image had been constantly before him during the march, and earnestly besought her to enter into an engagement with him.
To this Dorothy replied that she would not make any immediate engagement, but if he survived the campaign, and renewed his suit, she would consider the matter. The promise did not altogether satisfy him, but he was obliged to be content.
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VII
Ralph Fairbrother
SOMEWHAT late in the evening, Captain Douglas, who, it may be remembered, had the command of one of the Northumbrian regiments, informed General Forster that a spy had been arrested, but the general was so much engrossed by Mrs. Scarisbrick that he paid no attention to the information. Captain Douglas then spoke to Brigadier Mackintosh, who at once went with him to a small room where the man was detained.
Meantime, the spy had been recognised as Ralph Fairbrother, for whose capture a reward had been offered, and who was supposed to have gone to General Carpenter at Newcastle. On being searched a letter was found on him addressed to General Wills, giving particulars of the exact state of the forces, and making some remarks on Forster’s incompetency. The letter bore no signature, but was in a female hand. A few lines, traced in pencil, had evidently been added at the ball, and this important postscript recommended an immediate attack of the town, stating that it must be successful, since Forster was unprepared.
After reading this letter, and considering it for a moment, the brigadier handed it to Captain Douglas, who likewise read it carefully.
“Can ye guess by whom it is written?” inquired Mackintosh in a low tone.
“I can,” replied the other.
“Hark ye, sirrah!” said Mackintosh to the prisoner, who was looking on anxiously, “if you desire to save your life, you will tell us who wrote this letter, and from whom you received it.”
“It was slipped into my hand,” replied the spy. “That is all I know about it.”
“Were you not engaged by a lady to convey it to General Wills? Answer plainly.”
“I betray no confidences,” replied Fairbrother, firmly.
“Is General Wills at Wigan?” demanded Captain Douglas. “And how many regiments of infantry, horse, and dragoons, has he got with him?”