Loveday's history

by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

It was with a much lightened heart that I said my prayers, and sought the sleep I so much needed, nor did I open my eyes till the sun was high in the heavens next morning.

"Well, my dear, you have had a good sleep, and I am sure you are well rested," said Dame Yates, as I bade her good morning in the dairy, which was to her what his study is to a Dutch painter. "But now, what will you have to eat, for dinner is long done."

"Is it as late as that?" I asked in some dismay. "You should not have let me sleep so long."

"Oh it is the best medicine for young things, and you have had a trying time—" and then she whispered in my ear—"He you wot of is safe on his way, and bids you be ready for a sudden start; so you must eat and drink and be strong. I shall bring you a fresh egg and a cup of cream directly."

And nothing would serve, but she must purvey me a dainty meal, though I could as well have waited on myself; but she was one of those to whom service was ever a pleasure. I ate what she provided, and then, seeing the wisdom of mine uncle's advice, I arranged my jewels—of which, thanks to Mrs. Patience, I had good store—so that I could easily conceal them about me, and did up a bundle of necessary clothing, and a few books, which I could not make up my mind to leave behind me, namely, my Bible, my Latin Imitation, and the Book of Hours, which dear mother prioress had given me at our sorrowful parting. Ah, how far-away did that parting seem now. The rest of my things I left in Dame Yates's charge, for Dolly's little maiden in case she never heard of me again. Thanks to the liberality of my mistress, I had quite a sum of ready money—enough to keep me in comfort for some time, even without the need of selling my jewels.

I never passed such a time of suspense as during the next four days. I dared not go from home lest the messenger might come in my absence; and probably that was as well, for an old enemy, even that very Betty Wilkins who had been the means of my disgrace about the red flowers, was plotting against me. She being abroad the night of the shower, had seen me take refuge in the porch of the haunted cell, not five minutes, as she alleged, before the screams and groans were heard from within; and she even declared that watching and listening, she had heard my voice talking with the evil spirit and had seen me afterward issue from the ruin, and fly across the fields without touching the ground. The dread of witches was as rife then as now, though people in general strove to conciliate instead of persecuting them. Betty and her mother had themselves no good name in this respect, and I suppose they were glad to have a story to tell of some one else.

I heard nothing of this matter, however; and it was just as well, for I had enough to bear without it. At last, I bethought me that this anxious care and suspense was a distrusting of Providence and a direct disobedience to His commands who hath forbidden us to be anxious about the morrow. I carried my trouble to the right place, and asking for grace to submit myself in all things to His Holy will, I strove to set myself with all diligence about my usual occupations; a course I have ever found the best under the like circumstances. So I heard the children's lessons—I grieved that I had not begun them before—finished a muffler I was working for Dame Yates, and played over all my music lessons diligently, wishing to have them at my fingers' ends, seeing I did not know when I should over touch an instrument again.

I was busied thus, one evening between daylight and dark. It was now the latter end of August, and the evenings were somewhat chilly. But no one had yet thought of lighting a fire. Master Yates was dozing in his great chair, and his wife and daughter sat together on the settee. They were both fond of music, and Dolly indeed, was herself no mean performer upon the viol. *

It was growing quite dark, so that I could hardly see the keys, and Dame Hannah was talking of lighting the lamp, when I heard the hasty tramp of a horse outside in the court. It was nothing strange, for Master Yates's hospitality was well-known; and many a traveler stopped with us for the night, but that odd kind of prescience which hath accompanied me all my life, told me in a minute that this was no belated guest. Master Yates rose and went to the door, and Dame Hannah hasted to strike a light.

* The English were the most musical people in Europe in those days, and a man was hardly accounted educated who could not sing at sight.