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Updated: May 11, 2025
Gray drew near, in a sort of involuntary manner; as if to hear all she was saying. We saw him, and doubtless Mr. Lathom heard his footstep, and knew who it was that was listening behind him, and approving of every word that was said. He grew yet more sullen in manner; but still my lady was my lady, and he dared not speak out before her, as he would have done to Mr. Gray.
Lathom," began my lady, something abruptly for her, but she was very full of her subject, "what is this I hear about Job Gregson?" Mr. Lathom looked annoyed and vexed, but dared not show it in his words. "I gave out a warrant against him, my lady, for theft, that is all. You are doubtless aware of his character; a man who sets nets and springes in long cover, and fishes wherever he takes a fancy.
He hung on her answer. "Saturday impossible! I am not free till Monday, at least. And what about the groom?" She looked up. "I shall parade him to-morrow, livery, horse and all. I undertake he shall give satisfaction. The Lathom Woods just now are a dream!"
Whereupon Prince Rupert was detached, with orders first to go into Lancashire and relieve Lathom House, defended by the brave Countess of Derby, and then, taking all the forces he could collect in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, to march to relieve York. The prince marched from Oxford with but three regiments of horse and one of dragoons, making in all about 2800 men.
And we must leave Rupert to his career of romantic daring, to be made President of Wales and Generalissimo of the army, to rescue with unequalled energy Newark and York and the besieged heroine of Lathom House, to fight through Newbury and Marston Moor and Naseby, and many a lesser field, to surrender Bristol and be acquitted by court-martial, but hopelessly condemned by the King; then to leave the kingdom, refusing a passport, and fighting his perilous way to the seaside; then to wander over the world for years, astonishing Dutchmen by his seamanship, Austrians by his soldiership, Spaniards and Portuguese by his buccaneering powers, and Frenchmen by his gold and diamonds and birds and monkeys and "richly-liveried Blackamoors"; then to reorganize the navy of England, exchanging characters with his fellow-commander, Monk, whom the ocean makes rash, as it makes Rupert prudent; leave him to use nobly his declining years, in studious toils in Windsor Castle, the fulfilment of Milton's dream, outwatching the Bear with thrice-great Hermes, surrounded by strange old arms and instruments, and maps of voyages, and plans of battles, and the abstruse library which the "Harleian Miscellany" still records; leave him to hunt and play at tennis, serve in the Hudson's Bay Company and the Board of Trade; leave him to experiment in alchemy and astrology, in hydraulics, metallurgy, gunpowder, perspective, quadrants, mezzotint, fish-hooks, and revolvers; leave him to look from his solitary turret over hills and fields, now peaceful, but each the scene of some wild and warlike memory for him; leave him to die a calm and honored death at sixty-three, outliving every companion of his early days.
It was but child's play, indeed, if you chose to compare it with the later leaguer of Lathom, but to those immediately concerned, and to Harby village, all open mouths and open eyes, the business was a very Iliad. There was a great deal of powder burned and but little blood shed.
Vereker and Mr. and Mrs. Norris, like Frances and Anthony, were extraordinarily cheerful that afternoon. So were young George Vereker and Miss Lathom. "I can't think why I feel so happy," said Mrs. Vereker to Mrs. Norris. She was looking at her son George. "Nor I, either," said Miss Lathom, who was trying suddenly to look at nothing in particular. Miss Lathom lied and Mrs.
I wish I could believe that Nicky and Drayton really had had a hand in it. I'm most awfully grieved to hear that young Vereker's reported missing. Do you remember how excited he used to be dashing about the lawn at tennis, and how Alice Lathom used to sit and look at him, and jump if you brought her her tea too suddenly?
How changed the tone was since they had discussed the same things, riding through the Lathom Woods in June! There was little less self-confidence, perhaps; but the quality of it was not the same. Instead of alienating, it began to touch and thrill her. And her heart could not help its sudden tremor when he spoke of wintering "in or near Oxford."
The Flag-Lieutenant came in and took a good look at the ladies' dresses; Lady Swettenham being in white, Lady Lathom in pale mauve. Proverbially gallant as are British naval officers, the idea of first studying the ladies' dresses would not have occurred to them; that little touch requires a Frenchman.
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