"Never, never, Emmy," he said. "I will not transmit to others an infirmity." And he laid his finger significantly upon his forehead.
A moment of grave silence succeeded; and then, looking at her father, Emmeline, said--
"Would that I could give them back to you, my father!"
"There is nothing to prevent you, Emmy," said Richard Newark. "Lord Stair tells me that your father can hop over the sea and perch upon Ale at once, if he will but promise to live peaceably under the government that exists. In a word, the attainder can be reversed in a moment upon such a promise. His not having joined in the last affair, where we all burnt our fingers more or less, has won him high favour."
Lord Newark bent down his head upon his hand, and fell into deep thought.
"But come, let us talk of other things," said Richard Newark, after pausing for an instant. "Business is dull work; and that is settled. There is only one thing you must promise me, Eskdale and Emmeline. When you are Lord and Lady of Ale Manor, you must let me have my little room up two pair of stairs when I come to see you; and old Mrs. Culpepper, when she is housekeeper again, must not make the maids throw what she used to call my rubbish into the fire."
Emmeline held out her hand to him kindly; and her husband assured him that he should be as free as air in any house of his.
"I have already made free with this house, at all events," replied Richard Newark; "for I have asked Colonel Churchill to come down here to-morrow. He wants much to see you again, Eskdale; and, I can tell you, you owe him something more than a dinner and a bottle of wine."
"He was exceedingly courteous to me when I was a prisoner," said the young Earl; "and I shall be very happy to see him."
"Ay, but you owe him more than that," answered Richard Newark.