In Honour's Cause: A Tale of the Days of George the First by George Manville Fenn
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
THE BREACH WIDENS.
Andrew started from his seat as Frank entered the room and the door wasclosed and locked behind him; but, seeing who it was, he sat down againwith his face averted.
"Shall I tell him?" thought Frank. "No; it would be like triumphingover him to show him I have found out that he has been trying to cheatme into going off."
The boy felt so satisfied and at ease that he was more and moreunwilling to hurt his fellow-prisoner's feelings, and after a while hespoke.
"I suppose they'll give us something to eat," he said.
Andrew looked up at him in astonishment, but only to frown the nextmoment and turn his head away again.
Frank went to the window and stood looking out, one corner commanding aview of the Park; and after watching the people come and go for sometime, he suddenly turned to his companion:
"Here are the Horse Guards coming, Drew. Want to see them?"
"No. Will you have the goodness to leave me in peace?"
"No," said Frank quietly. "How can I? We're shut up together hereperhaps for ever so long, and we can't keep up that miserable quarrelnow. Hadn't we better shake hands?"
"What do you suppose I'm made of?" said Andrew fiercely.
"Same stuff as I am," replied Frank almost as sharply; "and as I'veshown myself ready to forgive and forget what has happened, you ought todo the same."
But it was of no use. Try how he would to draw Andrew intoconversation, the latter refused to speak; and at last the boy gave upin despair, and began to look about the captain's room for something outof which he could drag some amusement. This last he had to extract fromone of the books on a shelf; but it proved dry and uninteresting, thoughit is doubtful whether one of the most cheery nature would have held hisattention long. For he had so much to think about that his mind refusedto grasp the meaning of the different sentences, and one minute he waswondering whether his father would venture to the house, the next he wasgoing over the scene of the quarrel in the antechamber. Then he thoughtsadly about his interview with his mother, but only to feel elated andhappy, though it was mingled with sorrow at having given her so muchpain.
A little resentment began to spring up, too, against Andrew, as the truecause of it all, but it did not last; he felt far too much at rest forthat, and the anger gave way to pity for the high-spirited, excitablelad seated there in the deepest dejection, and he began to wish now thathe had not called him a liar and struck him.
"I shall go melancholy mad," muttered Frank at last, "if they keep usshut up long, and Drew goes on like this. But I wonder whether therewill really be a rising against the King?"
Curiosity made him try to be communicative, and he turned to his silentcompanion.
"Think there really will be any fighting?" he said.
Andrew turned to him sharply.
"Why do you ask?" he said.
"Simple reason: because I want to know."
"You have some other reason."
"Because I want to send word to the Prince that you are a rebel, andintend to go and join the Pretender's followers, of course," said Franksarcastically. "Don't be so spiteful, Drew. We can't live here likethis. Why don't you let bygones be bygones?"
"What interest can it be to you?" said Andrew, ignoring the latter partof his fellow-prisoner's remark.
"Do you suppose such a rising can take place without its being ofinterest to every one? There, we won't talk about it unless you like.Look here, I can't sit still doing nothing; it gives me pins and needlesin my hands and feet. I'll ring and ask Captain Murray to let us have adraught board if you'll play."
"Pish!" cried Andrew contemptuously; and Frank sighed and gave up again,to take refuge in staring out of the window for some time.
Then his tongue refused to be quiet, and he cried to his silentcompanion:
"There is something going on for certain. I've counted twelve officersgo by since I've been standing here."
There was no heed paid to his remark, and at last the boy drew a breathfull of relief, for he heard steps on the stairs, the sentry's piecerattled, and then the key turned in the lock, and Captain Murrayentered, looking very stern.
"Frank Gowan," he said, "you give me your _parole d'honneur_ that youwill not do anything foolish in the way of attempting to escape?"
"Oh yes, of course, sir," said the boy. "I don't want to escape."
"That's right. And you, Andrew Forbes?"
"No; I shall make no promises," was the reply.
"Don't be foolish, my lad. You ought to have cooled down by this time.Give me your word: it will make your position bearable, and mine easy."
"I shall give no promises," said Andrew haughtily. "I have beenarrested, and brought here a prisoner, and I shall act as a prisonerwould."
"Try to escape? Don't attempt to do anything so foolish, my lad. Iwill speak out like a friend to you. There has been some important newsbrought to the Palace; the guard has been quadrupled in number, doublesentries have been placed, and they would fire at any one attempting topass the gates without the word to-night. Now, give me your promise."
"I--will--not," said Andrew, speaking firmly, and meeting the captain'seyes without shrinking.
"Don't be so foolish, Drew," whispered Frank.
"I shall do as I think best," was the reply. "You are at liberty to dothe same, sir."
"Very well," said Captain Murray, interrupting them. "Perhaps you willbe more sensible and manly after a night's rest. I did not expect tofind a lad of your years behaving like a spiteful girl."
Andrew's eyes flashed at him; but the captain paid no heed, and went on:
"I have spoken to the colonel, Frank, and for your father's sake he willbe glad to see you at the mess table this evening. You are free of itwhile you are under arrest. I will come for you in half an hour. Bythe way, I have told my man to come to you for instructions aboutgetting your kit from your room. You will use him while you are aprisoner."
"Oh, thank you, Captain Murray," cried the boy eagerly.
"Pray make use of my servant, Mr Forbes, and order him to fetch whatyou require."
Andrew bowed coldly, and the captain left the room, his servant tappingat the door directly after, and entering to receive his orders fromFrank.
"Now, Drew," he said at last, "tell him what to fetch for you."
"I do not require anything," said the youth coldly. "Yes, look here.There is a little desk on the table in my room; bring me that."
"Hadn't you better give in, and make the best of things?" said Frank, assoon as they were alone.
"Had you not better leave me to myself, Frank Gowan?" said Andrewcoldly. "We are no longer friends, but enemies."
"No, we can't be that," cried Frank. "Come; once more, shake hands."
Andrew looked at him for a few moments fixedly, and then said slowly:
"Come, that's better."
"On the day when your King George is humbled to the dust, and you are,with all here, a helpless prisoner. I'll shake hands and forgive youthen."
"Not till then?" cried Frank, flushing.
"Not till then."
"Which means that we are never to be friends again, Drew. Nonsense!You are still angry. Captain Murray is right."
"That I speak like a spiteful girl!" cried the lad sharply.
"No, I did not mean that," said Frank quietly; "but if I had meant it, Ishould not have been very far from right. I hope that you will thinkdifferently after a night's rest. Come, think differently now, and giveup all those mad thoughts which have done nothing but make us fall out.It isn't too late. Captain Murray is trying to make things pleasant forus; tell him when he comes that you'll dine with him."
Andrew made an angry gesture, and Frank shrugged his shoulders, wentinto the adjoining room to wash his hands, and came back just as thetramp of soldiers was heard outside, the order was given for them tohalt, and then followed their heavy footsteps on the stairs.
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"Ready, bloodthirsty prisoner?" he said, smiling.
"Yes, sir, quite," replied Frank; while Andrew sat at the other end ofthe room with his back to them.
Frank glanced in his fellow-prisoner's direction, and then turned backto the captain, and his lips moved quickly as he made a gesture inAndrew's direction.
The captain read his meaning, nodded, walked up to the lad, and touchedhim on the shoulder, making him start to his feet.
"Life's very short, Andrew Forbes," he said quietly, "and soldiers areobliged to look upon it as shorter for them than for other men. Itisn't long enough to nurse quarrels or bear malice. I think I haveheard you say that you hope to be a soldier some day."
"Yes, I do," said the lad, with a meaning which the captain could notgrasp.
"Very well, then; act now like a frank soldier to another who says toyou, try and forget this trouble, and help every one to make it easierfor you. There's care enough coming, my lad; and I may tell you thatthe Prince has enough to think about without troubling himself any moreover the mad prank of two high-spirited boys. There, I'll wait for you;go into my room, and wash your hands and smooth your face. I venture tosay that you will both get a wigging to-morrow, and then be told to goback to your duties."
Andrew did not budge, and the captain's face grew more stern.
"Come on, Drew," cried Frank; but the lad turned away.
"Yes, come along," cried the captain; "a good dinner will do you bothgood, and make you ready to laugh at your morning's quarrel. Do youhear?"
There was no reply.
"You are not acting like a hero, my lad," said the captain, smiling oncemore.
Still there was no reply.
"Very well, sir; you refuse your parole, and I can say no more. I havemy duty to do, and I cannot offer you my hospitality here. You arestill under arrest."
He walked to the door, threw it open, made a sign, and a corporal andtwo Guardsmen marched in.
"Take this gentleman to the guardroom," he said. "Your officer has hisinstructions concerning him."
"Oh, Drew!" whispered Frank; but the lad drew himself up, and took a fewsteps forward, placing himself between the Guards, and kept step withthem as they marched out and down the stairs.
The next minute their steps were heard on the paving-stones without, andFrank darted to the window, to stand gazing out, feeling half chokedwith sorrow for his friend.
A touch on the arm made him remember that Captain Murray was waiting.
"It's a pity, Frank," he said; "but I did all I could. He's a bit toohigh-spirited, my lad. The best thing for him will be the army; thediscipline would do him good."
Frank longed to speak, but he felt that his lips were sealed.
"Well, we must not let a bit of hot temper spoil our dinner, my lad. Bythe way, what news of your father?"
"None, sir," said the boy sadly, though the thought of what AndrewForbes had said made him wince.
"Humph!" said Captain Murray, looking at the boy curiously. "There, Idon't want to pump you. Tell him next time you write that there will bea grand night at the mess when he comes back to his old place. Now,then, we shall be late."
"Would you mind excusing me, sir?" said Frank.
"Yes, very much. Nonsense! You must be quite hungry by now."
"No: I was; but it's all gone."
"Hah!" said the captain, gripping him by the shoulder; "you're yourfather's own boy, Frank. I like that, but I can't have it. Youaccepted the invitation, and I want you, my lad. Never mind AndrewForbes; he only requires time to cool down. He'll be ready to shakehands in the morning. Come, or we shall get in disgrace for beinglate."
Frank was marched off to the messroom; but he felt as if every mouthfulwould choke him, and that he would have given anything to have gone andshared Andrew Forbes's confinement, even if he had only received hardwords for his pains.