A Surprise for Sir Henry.
It was very tempting. The country looked so bright and beautiful from his prison window; the voice of his old companion brought up such a host of pleasant recollections, and it would have been delightful to renew the old intimacy. Then, upon the other hand, what would he give up? A dull monotonous life under a tyrannical superior, with but little chance of promotion, to receive honour, advancement, and no doubt to enjoy no little adventure.
It was very tempting, and enough to make one with a stronger mind than Hilary Leigh waver in his allegiance.
As he stood there thinking the song went on, and Hilary felt that did he but say yes, and swear fealty to one who believed himself to be the rightful king of England, he would be at liberty to join Adela at once. There would be an end to his imprisonment, and no more wretched anxiety.
He had done his duty so far, he argued, and he was doing his duty when fortune went against him, and he was made a prisoner, so to a certain extent his changing sides might be considered excusable. He had had little else but rough usage and discomfort since he went to sea, and the offers now made to him by Sir Henry were full of promise, which he knew the baronet was too true to hold out without perfect honesty.
Taken altogether—that is in connection with his position, and the probability that he might be kept here a prisoner for any length of time, and that most likely he had already been reported by Mr Lipscombe as a deserter—there was such a bright prospect held out that Hilary felt for the time extremely weak and ready to give up.
Meanwhile the song went on outside, for all these thoughts ran very quickly through the young man’s brain. Then Adela’s voice died away, and Hilary opened his eyes to see Sir Henry standing there, with a smile upon his handsome face, and his hand extended.
“Well, Captain Leigh,” he said, laughing, “I am to clasp hands with my young brother in the good cause?”
“You will shake hands with me, Sir Henry,” said Hilary, “for we are very old friends, and I shall never forget my happy days at the old hall,” and he laid his hand in that of the baronet.
“Forget them! No, my dear boy,” cried Sir Henry enthusiastically. “But there will be brighter days yet. Come along and join Adela; she will be delighted to have you with her again. Come along! Why do you hang back? Why, Hil, my boy, you have not grown bashful?”