“Entirely,” she replied, firmly. “Since assistance has been refused you by the king, you have no alternative. Doctor Rutter, with whom I have conferred, is of the same opinion.”
“Since Warrington has fallen, it is useless to continue the struggle at this moment,” said the chaplain. “Therefore you will be best away.”
“But am I justified in leaving you here?” said the earl to the countess.
“My lord,” she replied firmly, “unless you command me to accompany you I will not stir. Let me remain here. I will keep this castle for you against all the combined forces of your enemies. But perhaps they may not attack me.”
“Expect no consideration from them,” he rejoined, bitterly. “But I will not thwart you. I commit this castle to your charge.”
“And I will keep it for you, my lord,” replied the courageous lady, in a tone that electrified her hearers. “I will never yield it, but with life. You may rely on me.”
“I know it,” he replied, with admiration. “You will remain with her ladyship, Rutter?”
“To the last,” he replied. “I consider it my duty to stay with her, since she may need counsel and consolation. But there is not a single person in the garrison who will quit her ladyship.”
“I think not,” said the countess proudly.
“How say you, Frank?” remarked the earl to Standish. “Will you remain here, or accompany me to the Isle of Man?”
“Since your lordship allows me the choice, I will stay here,” replied Standish.
“I felt sure you would so decide,” said the earl. “You shall attend me to Whitehaven, where I shall embark, and then return. Go and prepare, I shall not tarry long here.”
On this, Standish quitted the room, and Doctor Rutter was about to follow, but the earl stopped him.
“Do not go, Rutter,” he remarked. “I have nothing to say in private to her ladyship.”
“Will you not see your children ere you depart, my lord?” said the countess. “They have not retired to rest, and will be sadly grieved indeed if they do not embrace you.”
“Nay, then, bring them to me at once,” he cried.
Summoned by Rutter, the three noble damsels rushed into the room, and were tenderly embraced by their father, who blessed them as he strained them to his breast.
“You will soon come back to us, dear father, will you not?” they cried in concert.
“I hope so,” he rejoined. “If not you must come to me. I am going to Castle Rushen.”
“We would rather remain at Lathom,” they exclaimed.
“Ay, it is best you should stay with your mother,” he rejoined. “And now adieu, my darlings. If I remain here a moment longer I shall never be able to tear myself away.”
Again embracing them all—again clasping the countess to his breast, he hastily quitted the room.
In the court-yard he found the escort he had brought with him consisting of a dozen well-armed and well mounted troopers—not more. All the officers of the garrison were assembled.
“Farewell, gentlemen,” he cried, as he sprang into the saddle. “I commit the countess and my children to your care.”
“We will guard them with our lives,” they rejoined with one voice.
Attended by Standish, and followed by the troopers, the earl then rode through the gateway.
His heart was very sorrowful, and he said to himself:
“Shall I ever return here? Shall I ever behold these dear ones again?”
END OF BOOK THE FOURTH.
END OF VOL. I.
| Go to Table of Contents |
Volume II
BOOK THE FIFTH
THE BELEAGUERED MANSION
I
Of the Garrison at Lathom House
NEARLY two months had elapsed since the Earl of Derby’s departure to the Isle of Man, where he had been occupied in repressing a threatened insurrection and re-establishing his authority, and though Warrington had surrendered, and almost every castle, or fortified mansion in the county was now in the hands of the Parliamentary leaders, no attack had as yet been made on Lathom House.
Its real strength not being known, it was thought the castle could be easily taken at any time. Though the countess had not been disturbed, she was virtually a prisoner in her own house, and never stirred forth without a guard. She made no display whatever, but was always secretly increasing the strength of the garrison. In fact, the castle, which was a small town in itself, was in a perfect state of defence, and quite capable of standing a lengthened siege.