cope with the riper wit and evil schemings of them that are its
elders. The DEVIL may buy a child, if he so choose, and the child
agree thereto, but not an Englishman–in this latter case the
contract would be null and void.”
“It seemeth a rude unchristian thing, and ill contrived, that
English law denieth privileges to Englishmen to waste them on the
devil!” cried Tom, with honest heat.
This novel view of the matter excited many smiles, and was stored
away in many heads to be repeated about the Court as evidence of
Tom’s originality as well as progress toward mental health.
The elder culprit had ceased from sobbing, and was hanging upon
Tom’s words with an excited interest and a growing hope. Tom
noticed this, and it strongly inclined his sympathies toward her
in her perilous and unfriended situation. Presently he asked–
“How wrought they to bring the storm?”
“BY PULLING OFF THEIR STOCKINGS, sire.”
This astonished Tom, and also fired his curiosity to fever heat.
He said, eagerly–
“It is wonderful! Hath it always this dread effect?”
“Always, my liege–at least if the woman desire it, and utter the
needful words, either in her mind or with her tongue.”
Tom turned to the woman, and said with impetuous zeal–
“Exert thy power–I would see a storm!”
There was a sudden paling of cheeks in the superstitious
assemblage, and a general, though unexpressed, desire to get out
of the place–all of which was lost upon Tom, who was dead to
everything but the proposed cataclysm. Seeing a puzzled and
astonished look in the woman’s face, he added, excitedly–
“Never fear–thou shalt be blameless. More–thou shalt go free–
none shall touch thee. Exert thy power.”
“Oh, my lord the King, I have it not–I have been falsely
accused.”
“Thy fears stay thee. Be of good heart, thou shalt suffer no
harm. Make a storm–it mattereth not how small a one–I require
nought great or harmful, but indeed prefer the opposite–do this
and thy life is spared–thou shalt go out free, with thy child,
bearing the King’s pardon, and safe from hurt or malice from any
in the realm.”
The woman prostrated herself, and protested, with tears, that she
had no power to do the miracle, else she would gladly win her
child’s life alone, and be content to lose her own, if by
obedience to the King’s command so precious a grace might be
acquired.
Tom urged–the woman still adhered to her declarations. Finally
he said–
“I think the woman hath said true. An’ MY mother were in her
place and gifted with the devil’s functions, she had not stayed a
moment to call her storms and lay the whole land in ruins, if the
saving of my forfeit life were the price she got! It is argument
that other mothers are made in like mould. Thou art free,
goodwife–thou and thy child–for I do think thee innocent. NOW
thou’st nought to fear, being pardoned–pull off thy stockings!–
an’ thou canst make me a storm, thou shalt be rich!”
The redeemed creature was loud in her gratitude, and proceeded to
obey, whilst Tom looked on with eager expectancy, a little marred
by apprehension; the courtiers at the same time manifesting
decided discomfort and uneasiness. The woman stripped her own
feet and her little girl’s also, and plainly did her best to
reward the King’s generosity with an earthquake, but it was all a
failure and a disappointment. Tom sighed, and said–
“There, good soul, trouble thyself no further, thy power is
departed out of thee. Go thy way in peace; and if it return to
thee at any time, forget me not, but fetch me a storm.” {13}
Chapter XVI. The State Dinner.
The dinner hour drew near–yet strangely enough, the thought
brought but slight discomfort to Tom, and hardly any terror. The
morning’s experiences had wonderfully built up his confidence; the
poor little ash-cat was already more wonted to his strange garret,
after four days’ habit, than a mature person could have become in
a full month. A child’s facility in accommodating itself to
circumstances was never more strikingly illustrated.
Let us privileged ones hurry to the great banqueting-room and have