"You have news of my uncle, sir?" said Emma, turning hastilytowards him.
"And of my father and mother?" added Dolly.
"Yes," he said. "Good news."
"They are alive and unhurt?" they both cried at once.
"Yes, and unhurt," he rejoined.
"And close at hand?"
"I did not say close at hand," he answered smoothly; "they are atno great distance. YOUR friends, sweet one," he added, addressingDolly, "are within a few hours" journey. You will be restored tothem, I hope, to-night."
"My uncle, sir--" faltered Emma.
"Your uncle, dear Miss Haredale, happily--I say happily, because hehas succeeded where many of our creed have failed, and is safe--hascrossed the sea, and is out of Britain."
"I thank God for it," said Emma, faintly.
"You say well. You have reason to be thankful: greater reasonthan it is possible for you, who have seen but one night of thesecruel outrages, to imagine."
"Does he desire," said Emma, "that I should follow him?"
"Do you ask if he desires it?" cried the stranger in surprise. "IF he desires it! But you do not know the danger of remaining inEngland, the difficulty of escape, or the price hundreds would payto secure the means, when you make that inquiry. Pardon me. I hadforgotten that you could not, being prisoner here."
"I gather, sir," said Emma, after a moment"s pause, "from what youhint at, but fear to tell me, that I have witnessed but thebeginning, and the least, of the violence to which we are exposed,and that it has not yet slackened in its fury?"
He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, lifted up his hands; andwith the same smooth smile, which was not a pleasant one to see,cast his eyes upon the ground, and remained silent.
"You may venture, sir, to speak plain," said Emma, "and to tell methe worst. We have undergone some preparation for it."
But here Dolly interposed, and entreated her not to hear the worst,but the best; and besought the gentleman to tell them the best, andto keep the remainder of his news until they were safe among theirfriends again.
"It is told in three words," he said, glancing at the locksmith"s daughter with a look of some displeasure. "The people have risen,to a man, against us; the streets are filled with soldiers, whosupport them and do their bidding. We have no protection but fromabove, and no safety but in flight; and that is a poor resource;for we are watched on every hand, and detained here, both by forceand fraud. Miss Haredale, I cannot bear--believe me, that I cannotbear--by speaking of myself, or what I have done, or am preparedto do, to seem to vaunt my services before you. But, havingpowerful Protestant connections, and having my whole wealthembarked with theirs in shipping and commerce, I happily possessedthe means of saving your uncle. I have the means of saving you;and in redemption of my sacred promise, made to him, I am here;pledged not to leave you until I have placed you in his arms. Thetreachery or penitence of one of the men about you, led to thediscovery of your place of confinement; and that I have forced myway here, sword in hand, you see."
"You bring," said Emma, faltering, "some note or token from myuncle?"
"No, he doesn"t," cried Dolly, pointing at him earnestly; "now I amsure he doesn"t. Don"t go with him for the world!"
"Hush, pretty fool--be silent," he replied, frowning angrily uponher. "No, Miss Haredale, I have no letter, nor any token of anykind; for while I sympathise with you, and such as you, on whommisfortune so heavy and so undeserved has fallen, I value my life.
I carry, therefore, no writing which, found upon me, would lead toits certain loss. I never thought of bringing any other token, nordid Mr Haredale think of entrusting me with one--possibly becausehe had good experience of my faith and honesty, and owed his lifeto me."
There was a reproof conveyed in these words, which to a nature likeEmma Haredale"s, was well addressed. But Dolly, who wasdifferently constituted, was by no means touched by it, and stillconjured her, in all the terms of affection and attachment shecould think of, not to be lured away.
"Time presses," said their visitor, who, although he sought toexpress the deepest interest, had something cold and even in hisspeech, that grated on the ear; "and danger surrounds us. If Ihave exposed myself to it, in vain, let it be so; but if you and heshould ever meet again, do me justice. If you decide to remain (asI think you do), remember, Miss Haredale, that I left you with asolemn caution, and acquitting myself of all the consequences to which you expose yourself."
"Stay, sir!" cried Emma--one moment, I beg you. Cannot we--and shedrew Dolly closer to her--"cannot we go together?"
"The task of conveying one female in safety through such scenes aswe must encounter, to say nothing of attracting the attention ofthose who crowd the streets," he answered, "is enough. I have saidthat she will be restored to her friends to-night. If you acceptthe service I tender, Miss Haredale, she shall be instantly placedin safe conduct, and that promise redeemed. Do you decide toremain? People of all ranks and creeds are flying from the town,which is sacked from end to end. Let me be of use in somequarter. Do you stay, or go?"