THE ROCK TAVERN
The highwaymen vanished as speedily as they had appeared. In
the chequered light and shade on the common, studded with clumps
of whin, birch, ridges and mounds of bramble, this was of easy
execution. It would have been so had they been alarmed. But there
was now nothing to alarm them—they disappeared because there was
nothing more to be got by staying. No sooner was Luke released
than he ran to the prostrate girl. Nan Norris also hastened to
her assistance.
The Savoyard ceased turning the handle of his hurdy-gurdy. The
monkey desisted from its capers, and returned to its place on his
shoulder.
The post-boy stood looking on, as stolid as his horses. In the
grey light from the sky—partly moonlight, partly the suffused
illumination of departed day—the face of Bladys was that of
death.
"It is in the family," said the man by the horses. "Her aunt
dropped just like this, and died right away."
Nan, who knelt by her head, and was chafing her hands, said, "She may be dead now."
"It is a faint," said Luke. "Help get her into the carriage. We must drive forward, and that without delay."
"Drive forward with her in this condition!" exclaimed the
girl. "It's murder."
"Egad, were it not most prudent for me to conduct you both
back to the Stewponey?" observed the post-boy.
"To the Stewponey!" echoed Francis. "Never! What, and let all
there see, and laugh to see, that I have been robbed! I—I been
robbed. On my life, never!"
He stamped with rage.
"Hold your fool's tongue," he continued; "he wins who last
laughs, and i' faith they have not done with me yet. 'Twas the
worst night's work they ever accomplished when they stayed me. I
shall not be balked of my revenge." Then, turning on the girl, he
asked, "Do you know—doubtless you do that—who these footpads
are? For one fetched you."
"One fetched me—yes; a man masked. But I have no keener eyes
than yourself to see through a patch of velvet. I warrant ye I
was too scared to disobey when he said, 'Come along with me, baggage.'"
"But you danced."
"So did she—Bla of the Stewponey. She is your wife now, I
hear. So did the ape. Ask her when she fetches to—and if she
does not, then inquire of the ape."
"I must hurry forwards. I cannot tarry here."
"Then go on, and leave her here."
"What—on this moor?"
"No, not so. Our cottage is hard by."
"Old Lydia Norris has a tavern nigh this," explained the
post-boy, "and Nan is her daughter."
Luke hesitated what to do. He was in the utmost perplexity. He
could not allow Bladys to remain longer unconscious on the grass
in an open common. He was impatient to be away from a spot where
he had been robbed and exposed to humiliation. He could not be
certain whether his wife were alive or only in a dead syncope. He
had pressing duties that necessitated his presence in
Shrewsbury.
"Well, it shall be so, then," said he. "I will take her to
your house. You have cordials—brandy. We will give her some and
see if that revives her, and when she returns to her senses she
shall continue the journey."
Then he broke into curses against his misfortune at having
been waylaid, and at having been caught at the one moment when he
was incapacitated for defending himself and protecting his
money.
"You will not recover her by oaths," said the girl. Then to
the post-boy, "Prithee, Tom, turn about the heads of the horses, and we will remove her to the Rock."
There was obviously no better course to be taken. Francis
acquiesced, sullen and muttering threats. In a very few minutes
the postillion drew up where the road was dark, overshadowed by
broad-leaved sycamores, so that in spite of all the light of the
sky it was there pitch-black night.
On the left hand was a bank, above this bank a garden
occupying as it were a terrace above the highway. At the back of
the garden a long, low brick cottage. No light shone through the
windows.
"Here we are," said Nan. "There is none within, save my old
mother. Folk don't come this way after nightfall; our customers
are day travellers, and of them only such as are footers. There
are three steps at first, then five, and you reach the
garden."
"What are your orders for the chaise?" asked the driver. "Shall I unharness?"