The expectation of his coming, and the greater matter upon which we were engaged, prevented my mind from dwelling2 longer upon the strange scene I had witnessed between Overton and Lady Arabella. Overton did not speak her name to me, and showed much sympathy for us. When Sir Peter’s chaise drove up to the door of the Bear and Churn, another chaise with four horses was waiting, and into it we huddled3, bidding Overton a hurried farewell; and in another moment we were off for York, the horses doing their best.
Sir Peter then told me the circumstances of his visit to Windsor. The Prince, who was always most powerful when the king was on the verge4 of madness, saw his father and found him comparatively rational. The story being broached5 to him, he appeared interested, and even grew more collected as his attention was [Pg 231]chained. He recalled at once Sir Peter Hawkshaw and the capture of the Indomptable and Xantippe, and corrected the Prince when he spoke6 of Sir Peter as Vice-Admiral of the White. It was a very easy matter to get his signature to the pardon, and the necessary seals and formalities took some little time but no trouble, and when Sir Peter presented himself at the Castle on Sunday, all was prepared for him.
We felt now comparatively safe. There was little doubt that we could reach York at least twenty-four hours in advance of the date set for the execution; our letters would precede us, giving positive assurances of hope; and we looked for no accidents, having a new and strong chaise.
After Sir Peter had told me his story, I told him mine about Lady Arabella and Overton. He was not much imbued7 with the kind of religion that Overton preached, although he swore roundly by Church and State, and was always a great churchman when he was slightly in liquor, which did not happen often. He therefore condemned8 Overton’s sermon, which [Pg 232]I tried to repeat to him, as a damned, beastly low sort of religion, unfit for a gentleman to practise; but he admitted that Overton lacked neither brains nor courage. For Lady Arabella, though, he had the stern disapproval9 of an honest heart, and in his excitement swore both long and loud because of the short-sightedness of Providence10 in permitting such women to exist for the undoing11 of his Majesty’s officers of both services.
We made good progress that night and the next day, which was Monday, and began to have strong hopes of reaching York Wednesday night. But on Monday, in the afternoon, the weather suddenly changed, a violent snow-storm set in, and our postboys wilfully12, I think, drove us ten miles out of the way, near a tavern where they hoped, no doubt, we would agree to stop until the storm should be over. But Sir Peter, putting one of his great horse-pistols to the postboy’s head, forced him to turn back to the high-road. We lost three hours by this; and when we got to our next posting stage, our horses, engaged two days ahead, had been taken. We got others, after a frantic13 effort, [Pg 233]but at the end of that day’s journey we saw our margin14 of time diminished exactly one-half.
I shall not attempt to describe the fierce and gnawing15 impatience16 which consumed us, nor the awful and unspoken dread17 which began to overshadow us. Sir Peter was a man of stout18 heart, and had no more notion of giving up at this stage of the affair than he dreamed of surrendering when he saw the Indomptable to windward and the Xantippe to leeward20.
The weather, however, grew worse instead of better, and even four horses could scarcely drag us through the mire21 made by the snow and rain. In spite of all we could do our progress diminished, although at no time did it seem hopeless, until—O God! twenty miles from York, at midnight on the Thursday, Sir Peter himself suddenly gave out; the strain had proved too much for his brave heart and sturdy frame. It came as the horses were wallowing along the road in the darkness, and I, holding my watch in my hand, was glancing at it every ten minutes, by the feeble light of the traveling lamp. I spoke to Sir Peter as he lay back in the chaise wrapped in his boat-cloak, and got [Pg 234]no answer. He was unconscious. Without stopping the chaise, I got some brandy, which I tried to pour down his throat, but could not. I grew much alarmed,—it was not like Sir Peter to refuse good brandy, and as we were passing a farmstead, I stopped the chaise, knocked the people up, and had Sir Peter carried into the house. I met with kindness, and I repaid it with coin of the realm. Sir Peter soon revived, and his first words were,—
“Push on, my lad. Don’t wait to repair damages.”
I found that his seizure22 was really trifling23, and he assured me he would be able to resume the journey by daylight, the farmer agreeing to furnish him horses; so, in half an hour I had again taken the road.
And ten miles from York, the chaise broke down!
I had the horses taken out, and, mounting the best beast, made for York at the top of his speed, which was poor,—the creature was already spent with traveling.
It was just daylight, and streaks24 of golden glory were lighting25 up the pallid26 dawn; I urged [Pg 235]the poor beast onward27. Seven miles he went, then he dropped dead, just as the sun was gilding28 the spires29 of York Cathedral. Before me, along the road, jogged an itinerant30 tinker on a rather good-looking horse, the tools of a tinker’s trade hanging from a moth-eaten saddle. I was young and strong,—he was middle-aged31 and ill-fed and feeble. I ran up to him, holding five guineas in my hand.
“Lend me this horse to ride to York!” I cried.
The man, astonished at my abrupt32 address, stopped, but gave me no answer. I made my own answer, though, by dragging him off the beast, dashing the five guineas on the ground, and clattering33 off, throwing away the tools and kettles as I galloped34 along.
Already there were great crowds in the streets, and as I made my way madly toward the jail, I was often impeded35. I shrieked36, I screamed at the people, and waved aloft my precious paper, shouting, “Pardon! Pardon!” The cry was taken up, and swelled37 in a great roar that came from a thousand friendly throats. As I galloped along on the tinker’s [Pg 236]horse, in a frenzy38, through the crowded streets, an awful unspeakable Thing loomed39 up before me. It was the gibbet, and it was empty!
I felt the hot tears run down my cheeks at this, and some recollection of the God that Overton had preached to me caused me to utter an inarticulate thanksgiving! But if my tongue faltered40, my heart did not.
At last I pushed my way through shouting crowds, to the jail. The people parted, and I saw a black cart drawn41 by a white horse, and Giles Vernon, with pinioned42 hands, sitting in it, by the side of the hangman. I noticed—as I did all the trifles of that dreadful time—that the jailer was ashy pale, and Giles was fresh-colored. I flung myself off my horse, rushed toward the cart, holding the paper above my head. Oh, the roaring and the shouting! I thrust it in Giles’ face; the hangman, in a second, cut the thongs43 that bound the prisoner’s hands. Giles took the pardon and kissed it, and then threw his arms around me and kissed me, and smiled and waved his hat in the air, while voices thundered, men shouting like demons44, and women screaming and weeping. [Pg 237]And the next thing I knew Daphne appeared, as if dropped down from Heaven, and, springing into the cart, clasped Giles; and Lady Hawkshaw, a little slower, but yet quick, descended45 from the coach, in which she and Daphne had come, and embraced all of us; and then, the cheering seemed to rend19 the skies.
In a little while, the mood of the crowd changed. They began to clamor for the blood of Sir Thomas Vernon. He was known to be away from home, but, as if by a preconcerted movement, a dash was made for Vernon Court, which was but five miles away. The military were called out, and the crowd stopped; but not without a collision, and several persons were badly injured, which did not tend toward better feeling for Sir Thomas.
For ourselves, I remained with Giles until he was duly released by the officers of the law, while Daphne and Lady Hawkshaw set off to meet Sir Peter on the road. They met him, five miles off, and brought him back to York in their coach. I shall never forget the scene when they drove up to the inn where Giles and I were already, the crowd, however, not allowing [Pg 238]him to remain indoors at all. When the coach hove to, the people, in their delight, picked Sir Peter up and carried him bodily up stairs, to an open balcony, and demanded a speech, followed by “Parliament! Parliament! Our next member!” and so on. Sir Peter made a speech,—the most wonderful I ever heard,—standing with one hand on Giles’ shoulder, and the other on mine, with Lady Hawkshaw and Daphne in the background.
He began by roundly damning Sir Thomas Vernon, “and a lady who shall be nameless.” Nevertheless, in spite of some vagaries46, the speech was full of sound sense, and he promised the people, if they gave him their suffrages47 for parliament, he would do all in his power for the abolition48 of the barbarous law from which Giles Vernon had suffered so cruelly. He averred49 that it was impossible for a seaman50, alone and unaided, to take care of himself on dry land, Jack51 ashore52 being a helpless creature at best, and but for Lady Hawkshaw he would probably have been hanged himself, long ago. This allusion53 to Lady Hawkshaw, who fairly divided the honors with Giles, brought forth54 yells of [Pg 239]delight from the crowd. Her ladyship appeared and bowed magnificently, and it was a regular triumph for us all, from beginning to end.
Next day, with Giles, we all started for London, the happiest coach-load of people in the three kingdoms.
Two days after our arrival, we read the announcement of the marriage, at St. George’s, Hanover Square, of Sir Thomas Vernon to Lady Arabella Stormont.
Sir Peter was delighted at this match, and so was Lady Hawkshaw, and for once they were agreed. The position of the newly-married couple in London was anything but a pleasant one; for Giles became the object of public sympathy, and of popular and royal approval. The Prince of Wales sent for him, and our visit to Windsor, whither we all went to thank the king, was made a triumph for us. Sir Thomas and Lady Vernon were forbidden the court and Carlton House, and were frequently hissed55 in public. I saw them myself at Drury Lane, when they were hissed. Sir Thomas merely grinned, while Lady Arabella surveyed the [Pg 240]scowling faces before her with a slow sweet smile, and calmly played with the diamonds in her stomacher.
We had a whole year of happiness. The dreadful experience Giles had been through began to tell on him, and he was permitted to remain quietly a year on shore. And I, because of Giles, was given a year with my bride before I had to leave her. And what a year of blessedness it was to all! We all lived with Sir Peter and Lady Hawkshaw in Berkeley Square, and those two honest souls took delight in us. Lady Hawkshaw became a heroine, and the worthy57 woman enjoyed it thoroughly58. Overton came sometimes to see us. A persecution59 had been set on foot against him; and he was several times arrested and sentenced for unlawful assemblage. But persecution was not the way to prevail with Overton.
It was very well understood who instigated60 these continued prosecutions61, and that did not help to increase the popularity of Sir Thomas and his beautiful wife. At last, a year to the month after the trial at York, the last indignity62 was offered to Overton. He was sentenced to [Pg 241]be whipped at the cart’s-tail, and set in the pillory63.
There was a general rally of his friends; and on the winter morning when this barbarous sentence was to be carried out, a number, including many persons of note, were assembled at the prison, when Sir Peter and I joined them.
We soon heard that the government would not permit the first part of the sentence to be carried out; but when Overton emerged from the prison, he was unaware64 of this, and prepared for the worst. The holy calmness of his countenance65 and air brought even Sir Peter to admit that “the pious66 dog is a man, after all.” When informed that he would not be whipped, Overton only remarked,—
Arrived at the place of punishment, we found a great crowd assembled, of all sorts of persons, among them some of the highest quality. Overton saluted68 them, and with the utmost dignity submitted to the cruel and hateful punishment. He had, however, the undisguised sympathy of the officers of the law, as well as [Pg 242]of the crowd, and was treated with the utmost tenderness.
It is possible for a good man undergoing unjust punishment to be dignified70, even in the pillory; and so it was with Overton. His singular beauty, the mildness of his countenance, the uncomplaining fortitude71 with which he submitted to an odious72 and miserable73 position, the remembrance of his past military services, showed him to be every inch a man. Many of his friends came in their coaches, and, descending74 and going up to Overton, saluted him respectfully and expressed their sympathy, to which Overton gently returned thanks. At last a very splendid coach appeared. It was magnificently horsed with four thoroughbreds, and had outriders, besides two huge footmen with nosegays. It drew up in front of the pillory, and within it sat Lady Vernon, superbly dressed; and in her arms she held a very young infant in a great robe of lace and satin. Two nurses sat on the front seat; and Sir Thomas’ saturnine75 countenance glared behind Lady Vernon’s[Pg 243] beautiful, triumphant76 face. The coach stopped; and Lady Vernon, holding the child up in her arms, directly in front of Overton’s eyes, gave him a smile and a meaning look, as much as to say,—
“Poor wretch77! your inheritance is gone!” The crowd, which was never in a good humor with the Vernons, began to hiss56 vigorously. This they appeared not to mind; but when hisses78 were followed by a shower of stones and sticks, the equipage rolled off at the top of its speed.
At twelve o’clock Overton was released, and at once he was exhorting79 the people to fear God and live truly to Him. He was not interrupted by the constables80 who were present, and was listened to with solemn attention. He has preached ever since, and has never again been molested81. And when a dear little girl came to my Daphne,—I was then at sea, fighting the French,—Overton was at the christening, and made a prayer over her infant head, which my Daphne believes will keep that dear child good and holy all her life.
Giles Vernon, now Captain Vernon, in command[Pg 244] of his Majesty’s ship Acasta, forty-four, is counted the smartest of the young captains in the British service. The women still love him; but Giles has grown a little shy of going too far with them, and swears he will die a bachelor. However, there appears to be an affair forward between my little Daphne, who is now four years and six months old, and Captain Vernon, and I think something will come of it when she is of a marriageable age—and so thinks her mother too.
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1
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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5
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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6
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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7
imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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9
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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11
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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12
wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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13
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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24
streaks
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| n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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41
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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42
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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44
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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45
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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46
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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suffrages
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| （政治性选举的）选举权，投票权( suffrage的名词复数 ) | |
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abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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49
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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50
seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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51
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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52
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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53
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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55
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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56
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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57
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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59
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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instigated
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| v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prosecutions
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| 起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事 | |
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62
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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63
pillory
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| n.嘲弄；v.使受公众嘲笑；将…示众 | |
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64
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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66
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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67
scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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pilloried
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| v.使受公众嘲笑( pillory的过去式和过去分词 )；将…示众；给…上颈手枷；处…以枷刑 | |
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70
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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71
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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72
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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73
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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75
saturnine
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| adj.忧郁的，沉默寡言的，阴沉的，感染铅毒的 | |
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76
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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78
hisses
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| 嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 ) | |
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79
exhorting
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的现在分词 ) | |
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80
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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81
molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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