'He has gone to fight. He has 'listed with the Irish to fight against England. Ye have driven me to add to your sorrows, Lady Deb; lightening my own heart to tell you this.'
'O Margaret, Margaret! what could induce him to do this mad thing? Has he really joined?'
'A week ago.'
'And a private! O Charlie Fleming, this is a sore trouble, yet no disgrace. But you thought yourself a ruined man.'
'We must pray for him, Lady Deb. Oh, night and day he is my prayer. God guard him!'
'It is well father cannot know of this;' and Deborah fell into deep thought.
'Mistress Dinnage,' said she suddenly, 'I was happy this morning: I heard from May Warriston.'
'I saw you did.'
'She told me news. Mistress Blancheflower was married a month ago at Naples to Count Mazzini. There was a very grand wedding.'
'What! Did she desert Master King Fleming then, for this foreign count?'