CHAPTER V
Edward convalesceth i' the Green Lattice
When mine Eyes opened next Morning, my loved Mother's dear, pale Face was hanging over me. "Child," quod she, "Misfortunes never come alone—When Master Hewet's Post came to Ashford with News of thy Sickness, I was far from Home, in Westmoreland, at the Death-bed of thine Uncle Lancelyn; and I wist not till Yesterday, what News was awaiting my Return." ... And she hung over me, and bathed my Face in her Tears. "But I am proud of thee, my Ned" quod she, "and so would thy Father have been. And thou hast taken off from thee the Reproach of being taught of a Woman as well as born of a Woman ... my dear, dear Son!"
Oh! what a Heaven it was to get well! There was my loved Mother beside me at her Sewing, telling me of Ashford and the green Lanes of Kent, and of the wild Hills of Westmoreland, till I seemed to be there myself. There was Mistress Fraunces cockering me up, first with Sweets and cooling Drinks, and then with savoury and strengthening Things; even to Mortreuse and Leche Lombard! And when I was able to sit up at the green Lattice, Mistress Anne and I would look down on the Barges and Boats, and play at divers Games and tell divers Stories. The Lodger that had beforetime occupied this Chamber, had left a Heap of old Books and written Papers, which, having Nothing private in them, my Master said I was free to look over. There was Part of a Chronicle of English History, whether the Writer's own Composure or a Traduction, I wot not; but brave and pleasant Reading, about the Courts of England, France, Spain, and Flanders, in the Time of our Edward the Third, and Queen Philippa. Another Work was a Romaunt of Love and Chivalry: also an Account of London Bridge, and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and a Treatyse on Fysshynge. Likewise, there was a great Roll of Drawings, done, I afterwards found, by another Lodger, in black and red Chalk, much fouled, smeared, and chafed, but diverting to look at, being Representations of Men, Women, Children, Skeletons, Death's Heads, Bones, Angels, Fiends, Hippogriffs,—and divers other Presentments; with H. H. writ at the End.
Thus pleasantly passed the Time till the Doctor said I had only now to pick up my Strength; and my Mother then thought it Time for her to return to my little Brothers. The Evening before she left, she sayth unto me somewhat apologetically, "Ned, thine Uncle Edward having died childless, and left all to thine unmarried Uncle Lancelyn, who hath now left me his Heir, I am now well to do, with an hundred Pound by the Year, real Estate, and, personal Estate, five hundred Pounds, which I have taken kind Master Hewet's Advice concerning the Disposal of. And he, being kindly affectioned unto thee just now, (as well he may be,) is pleased to say thou art sure to make thine own Way in the World, and to advise my devising all my personal Estate unto thy younger Brothers, thou being secure of the other at my Death."
Quod I, "Dear Mother, mayst thou live as long as I shall! There is Nothing thou canst do so much to my Mind as to care for Thomas and Julian, the one of whom is weakly and unfit for active Life, and the other, I think, will love Farming. Master Hewet, I am certified, hath spoken wisely." And in sooth, I was glad to note what a good Understanding seemed to exist, on so short Acquaintance, between him and my dear Mother.
So, when she was gone, I had Nothing to do but to get well. Marry! what a hard Matter, though, it was!—At first I was glad to think I might go forth abroad, and resume my old Gossips with Tomkins. But the very first Time I essayed to clamber up to his Attick, though 'twas only two short Flights, I found myself so weak that I was fain to sit down on the Stair and shed Tears, whether I would or no. And there, to my very great Shame, I was found of my Master. He bespake me kindly, and helped me up, and said this Weakness would soon go off: howbeit, it did not.—I always think that Chirurgeon bled me too freely: I noted his saying, "We'll knock him down first, and then build him up again!" which carryeth a Sound of Smartness, but not always answereth with the Event. Thus, 'twas now found I must still go softly; and the Weather being sultry, Master Hewet bade me keep as much as I could i' the open Air and Shade, and creep out, as my Strength permitted, to the Fields, with Mistress Anne to my Mate. So we went forth Hand in Hand, for I was past carrying her; and presently I say, "Oh me, Mistress! ... I must sit down"—and sayth she, "There's a Door-step i' the Shade a little farther on, with a nice old Woman on it, selling Mulberries." So we creep on, and the little Maid buyeth me Mulberries, and I eat and rest, and am refreshed. Then quod I, "Let's go back now, Mistress;" but sayth she, "Oh, let's try to go on to Trolop's Milk-farm." So I love not to cross the little Fondling, and as soon as we reach the green Meadows, the fresh, sweet Air seems to take away that queer, light, fluttering Feel in my Head, and to refresh and brace me; and I lie on the Grass i' the Shade, and she runs hither and thither and gathers Borage, and Blue Bugloss, and Bushy Red-mint, and bringeth them to me, saying, "What's this?" and "What's this?" And so we go on Day by Day.
Now as touching Miles Hackathrift. When I first lay sick, I have said he was mighty softened, and went gently and seemed amain concerned for me. Howbeit, Boy's Grief not long lasteth, and he soon fell tired of feeling or feigning any; more by Token, he perceived his was outrun by that of Everyone in the House. Whereupon he turned about, and grew indifferent, then jealous, then surly, then envious, doubtless by small Degrees; but of this, I, being apart from him, was not cognizant; and the Change made itself apparent to me all at once. First, when Master Hewet was out, he took Advantage of it to come trampling up Stairs with all the Clamour he could, singing, "Row the Boat, Norman!" in a defiant sort of Way; and when Mistress Fraunces put her Head forth of the Lattice Chamber and sayth, "Make not such a Turmoil, Miles," he pretended to stumble on Tomkins's Stair, and let a heavy Weight roll all the way down it. When he clattered down after it, Mistress Fraunces, watching her Opportunity, gave him a Rap on the Head, which I know that white Hand of hers could not have dealt very heavily; natheless he took Occasion by it to cry out sharply, and then give one or two dismal Grones, which he was too spirited to have done had he in verity been mal-entreated. However, finding he might not sing nor slam Doors while I lay under the Leech's Care, he turned sulky and held close, so as that scarce yea or nay was to be had out of him. When at length I returned to our Loft, he took Care to do me to wit how pleasant it had been to him to have it all to himself; and immediately took Advantage of my coming back, to oversleep himself of a Morning. Also he instantly intermitted all the little Share of my Work that had been put upon him while I was ill. Seeing me turn white from Time to Time, he said I was shamming for the Sake of Soups and Cordials; and when I went forth with Mistress Anne, he called me a special good Nursery-maid. All this I cared for very little, knowing that when I got stout, I could soon put him down; but meantime, 'twas not over-pleasant to be scoffed at as a languid Lad, who, if trodden on, could not turn again. One Day, when some Trifle had made me start and change Colour,—I think it was seeing Mistress Anne go nigh the open Window,—he had half pronounced, "You Coward!" when, suddenly changing his Mind, he sayth, "Dost know what new Name I have found for thee, and taught the Lads along the Bridge? 'The Knight of the Flying Leap!'" Which was humourous, but not well natured. Howbeit I heard it often enough for awhile, but as a Title of Distinction instead of Derision; which incensed the Author of it.
But all these little Clouds blew over during the three Weeks I spent with my Mother at Ashford. When I came back, I was the same Lad as ever, and took Things as I found them, and fell into my old Place.