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1 2 3
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MICIOCOPY tESOWTION TBT CHART
(ANSI ond (SO TEST CHART No. 2)
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A APPLIED IN/HGE
1653 Eost Morn Street
Rochealer. New York 14609 USA
(716) 482 -0300 -Phone
(7t6) 288 - 5989 - Fa,
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m KINGS DAUGMTET^*'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
I !?• 5"cklt MIniAter.
The Raiden.
The Ulac 5unbonnet
The Playactreas.
Bo» Myrtle and Peat.
s^k".;' *"•"""'"*••
The Qrey Man.
Lads' Love.
Uttle Anna Mark.
Lochlnvar.
The SUndard Bearer.
The Red Axe.
The Black Douglas
Love Idylls.
The Silver Skull.
Cinderella.
fr^'^'** Travellers.
Sir Toady Uon.
■• "^^^mw^m
Flower-o'-the-Corn
'rrr
T Kmcs DAUGMTEf
•5- R. CROCKETT.
_„^ ttmrottto :
THE COPP CLARK COMPANY. LIMITED,
1902.
PZ3
n
CONTENTS.
OHAPTEB
i- — Frances
J— ^;»« Road to Keltonhill " '
VIII.— My Daughter Yvette
lA.— To Love and to Hate
X.— A Woman's Wits
XL-^e Judas Tree Lets Fall a Blossom: ." ' "
Xm Z?^! P^ ^°'* °° **>« Stairway
^.-O^tam Spokes in Certain WhLs ' ' '
-*-iv — rh© Maison Rouge
XVI. — Check t . , • • . .
XIx'~Sr m"T?1" ^'*y °* ^~*her and Sister" '
vv'~^ ^"*'*" R**« of Folly .
Xxt~i ! ^'^"^'^ **' *'^« Crypto'
XXI.— Madame la Mar6chale
XXII.-The Cradle of St. Veran "
XXV ~I fi S.^««*°«« of Stolen Waters . . '
jSvt* -^ ^'T ^ ^''^^ Woodcocks
2S^'~?rX° -'^^^"^ Finds Friends .' ' '
3^.~The Ferry of Beaucai^e " - '•
AAA..— Apples of Sodom
PAOB
1
10
18
26
3C
43
57
65
80
. 91
. 105
. 116
. 123
132
146
166
164
173
181
193
204
217
227
236
248
256
264
272
277
284
p
c
c
■a
VI
Contents.
OHAI>T£B
^I.-Jean Cavalier's Last Temptation
XX?Tri*~S^'' ***** ^^''^^ Not Tmoe
S^iv V ^' Resin-Qathe^r's K™ ' '
^^-^iT; Finf SS !;°™ «- ^- ^"P
XXXlX-n^e Spid'er^Ct'web^"^"^'"
vfr*""^ ^^'^^^ °f Evil ..
^-Eye and Lilith „/ I "
SELAff_A Song in AntipiTuny Z
PAd
2S
30
31
32
33
34'
36'
37]
38(
391
401
40£
41£
424
431
437
448
4£4
PAoa
293
300
313
322
331
344
367
371
380
390
400
405
415
424
431
437
448
464
Flower-o'-the-Corn
'\/\r\/\*\o ,, ^
CHAPTER I.
Frances.
He ought to take bs tone from 2 f " '*'^ f 'ghbou^.
no precisian, no enthusTt no ,t. i '"^- ^' '^'» "»
but rather a man of affa£ " ^TT P"™"«°.
and his flngera tap™dTh?f„i/ .""^ ""^« Pa"««i,
"Once. sir^herf^'^VXutdT »'"■ T^^^^'W-
gracious, who assisted mS ^th '» "^ '? '"'' ^"'y
0' money. I „ever founf mysSt anVZ ""^ """
No! not a whit the woree-hf^^if7 u '"'"^ '<»• '»•
tation, well_l hadls^ ,? '•i'"'"^'"- 1° '«P»-
Maurice, you have tLZL V°" ^1 ,,®°-/''P'^'"
far as mere man may judT™.^^ 1 ,*' '^**-a«
by over-niceness mL' yX fhanor R I"™' •??-«"
one who knows. Take you^ dav^' t^^ ' " '""^
Man is young but once, remembt^ ' Th^ , ^°Z ^"^ '
all too soon wh^n n»„L """emoer. Xhe time will come
their reliTh. K^s my lad th,™"* *"" '"'™ '-
favour. For bv-andZ It^' J^ y"" '"^ ^i^S
over your shoiratth^:'' T"^ wiU begin to look
Aye. all too soonT Al^tZn, ■°'"" "^ "^""""y^"-
feo to Captain xMaurico Raith
(late of my Lord
2
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Cutts's regiment) spake his newly-nominated Grace of
Marlborough. The allied troops lay on the green
braeface just over the Castle of Cr^vecceur. The
Meuse flowed placidly beneath like a river seen in a
dream. There were six secretaries writing hard at it
in the next room, but for all that my lord was finding
time to bestow the advice of experience upon his
favourite aide.
The mind of the great captain was far from easy.
Nimeguen was still a cause of anxiety. Among
themselves the Dutch still disagreed — as usual. Blen-
heim lay far to the south, a peaceful hamlet, dreaming
among its vines, and one well-bred youth, in liTr.
Maurice's opinion, occupied a position of more impor-
tance in the movements of the allied armies than
Eugene the Prince, and a dozen Dutch generals v.itii
names that sounded Hke " Kinkhost."
So, with these words ringing in his ears, and in his
heart a great willingness to follow his Chief's
precepts, Maurice Raith took his way without the
bounds of the camp. It was harvest time, which in
that country happens in the high flood-tide of the
July heats. All Flanders and Picardy were veritable
Fields of the Cloth of Gold, in which blue blouses
swung and swayed, and scythes flashed circlewise in
the high bold sunshine.
It was thus that he first saw her, blue and white
among the gold, and ever after in his heart of hearts he
called her, hke those others, " Flower-o'-the-Corn."
Common folk in England call a certain gay, laughing,
defiant bloom " Cornflower." In France little chil-
dren leap up and shout aloud, " Bluet ! Bluet ! "
when they catch sight of it. For it is a precious thing
to them. And Maurice Raith, who in answering my
lord's letters had a genius for finding the right word.
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 5
knew at once that for this mVi «,k l
harvest field, there ™ *o „7h ""^ "'* '"'"''"8 ^^e
imt-Kower-o'-the-Com" s° ^"^ "*"' '^'^^^ •»"
was tm Time grew old ^""-"-o'-the-Ck,™ she
srs":^k-^r';-ai~rX'i:^
That is. save about thT^„" t of th". J^^^'P'^y-
aU things grow naturall^ cZL J fv f^'."'"^'"
htr:f?^.'-:%-f-XrsVL:
each accordi^^ :tr "'^t a^d T" ^' "" '"' '°™-
the meaning a'nd inwLS Tt^lZ'^T^"' "'
preamble. wora. buch is our
hgS.7:;^nr£"',?.r.L\r ^f ^-p«^
between them which she b,T . ""? °' ""^^o"'
stopped short irthe An. sbl ' ^"*"""'' ""<' '^e
pulses out the glad„r rf LT T^^g-^' « bird
brevity of life. 'Z^ tLught Thl 1°^"!? "'"^
seen so fair a thins-no not ^n ?? ^ ''* •""* """
-as. this maid wfo JltdWrn's^JT/ *<•« -S^'
wavmg eomlands of the Mease vdley^ """""^ '^'
^e^Mhef^of rr"', "'"'-^^y "'-o'' *o the
audibly ^^:h it tlef ^ ""'."r "'"''''»« ataost
ear. It w^ ^ Is.* t7 °^'"'' '*"««« »» the
settling X^lr tK- J"'y- *»d 'be Duke was just
8 oown for the seeond time in front of that
w
4 FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
famous town of Namur, the strongest fortress of aU
those Lowlands Low, to which the folk of every
country m Europe come as to a cockpit to arrange
then- quarrels and to fight their battles. For these are
the thmgs that make the flat lands famous— to wit
Flemish mares, Dinant copper-workers, ugly women!
and the finest battlefields in the world.
Yet nothing was less in the mind of Maurice Raith
than maidens fair or maidens Flemish, as he strolled
out into the cornfields to cool his brain after toiling aU
the mormng writing the Duke's letters and listening
with one ear to the great Captain's advice. For mv
Lord Mariborough had taken a fancy to the young
man, and so for the most part kept him hard at work
whde he permitted the gold-barred ornamentals of his
staff to disport themselves in Brussels along the shady
side of the Grande Place, or to ogle the maids of the
city from under the lacework turrets of the Town Hall
So it chanced that, in a field a mile or two beyond
the limits of the camp, Maurice Raith, sauntering
heart-free, suddenly heard, as it were, the carolling
vt^ ui ^^ '°*^ '"^ ^*^^^^ ^« «to^^^ was sunk
a little below the surrounding fields, as is the wont of
the m.vinces of Ardennes-the banks steep and
of crumbbng yeUowish ochre, with dark green plumes
of broom at the top, feathering over and making
a shadow pleasant to the wayfarer aU the high summer
Here it was that he heard the sweet lilt of a giri's
voice singing as to herself.
Quick at the sound Maurice sprang at the steep
face of the bank as he would have done at an entrench-
ment. With one impetuous movement he burst
through the broom, and lo ! he stood stone-stricken
in sudden amazement. For Flower-o'-the-Corn had
come into his life, and he could never be the sam^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
6
r.pr .The Z'^: '^iTv^^^^ »><>»«
sword of Bharpness '"° ^^ '""o ''"-y
vivid colour ?^S wJT """ '""y- "» •^h o'
poppy or pome«anlT ^ """"*> °' «<>°'e tall
virginal. Sheird eTes^haT""'/^'''''"''"""^""^
to sapphire blue, arfrom az»f b»T ''''* '"'^'"
mysterious sea-violet app™^i„ » .u *"'' "8*'° to a
above them aid the m^"? ^. **"" '''^ *••»' ^^one
them. But her moutb .*""" ""^"^ behind
Not at aU a r^poTfuf^ T *"*'. «'^'"'«» beauty.
flittingfromexSnXlt^^S T ""■"*"'■"'
disdainful, forgivine aU i.f ^ ' ^ ***°«'P«*"l«nt,
seconds-; mofth ^ ^ *,.•,* """P"'' of twenty
of pearly tS:h;^t;'^'*^f«'d -jtel-ing glimpses
somema."terpieo;„th%rweUe1!^;^r'^ "^'^y^ -ii-
ooct^fon't" ,^d\:1!f h'"''°? "P"" *« P'o»"t
the young m^a.^'lnht^sunrCttTtl" T'^^ *"
cloud. She wotb « r« , u °'®*^"^g through an April
coloured t.ZZi:XrT.' f""-^' "' ""^^^^^
her hair beneath it was of t^. > '"* T'^^' '""^
parts of Indian corn ^f^ the colour of the ruddy
gold and dXshadowTnJ^^T? "'""' "«•"« "« 'od
it i.o.er-o..tht?^r:L"rt"^™,Tfr^^^
a';ZwTrwrr:r «'»y«ix;:
that had "soth^rrsS ^L^rT'TnT '"^
not^e": ""L:: .^r „ ^° P- -""» -^te d„wn.
"S express the peculiar and invincible charm
!l
n
lii
• FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
of Mistress Frances WeUwood, sole daughter of Mr.
Patrick WeUwood, chaplain to Ardmillan's regiment,
in the service of the Queen of Great Britain, France,
and Ireland. It is hardly fair to say that the young
man was struck. Rather he was buflFeted. Nor did
this do him any harm, for he was a youth of some
experience, this same Maurice Raith, as befitted an
officer and a gentleman on the personal stafif of my
Lord Marlborough. No stranger was Captain Raith
to the whimsies of court dames and ladies of honour,
fully alive to the fact that there were wives of rich
ornaments of great City companies, who were willing
to bestow embroidered suits and jewelled sword-hilts,
all for the favour of a little escort duty on fine
Sundays after Mr. Richard Davies or Dr. Henry
SachevereU had preached in St. Paul's or Crutched
Friars. Moreover, my lord did not encourage simple-
tons about him, never having felt himself any the
worse of my Lady Cleveland's early bounty, the pro-
ceeds of which he had locked away so securely in Lord
Halifax's annuity.
Yet, when .ill was said and done, a forth-looking,
honest, passably virtuous youth was Master Maurice
Raith, brevet Captain and acting private secretary
on the staff of my Lord Duke before the defences
of Namur, about which the river Meuse fetches a
peaceful compass, as becometh a river of the Lowlands
Low.
" What is your name ? '*
" Frances. And yours ? "
" Maurice."
There was the inevitable pause as they looked at
each other, blushing with beautiful unanimity. Sur-
names were not asked for, somehow. Flower-o'-
the-Cora fingered a saffron and purple Marguerite,
ii;
jii
Hi
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORNj 1
T^V^l ^^ "^r> ^~°^ ^^''' ^^^^'^ pincushion.
Jown Th« ? """"^ instinctively, and were walking
^nfJ? u^ ^Z^y ^'^"^ *^^ ^*°^P- Frances could
not tell why-mdeed. she did not know of it till
afterwards. Maurice Raith switched the broom with
t" !!""• *°^ "'"^^^^ »»" «n»Pty brain for something
^^.^A K T** °*'^ volubility had strangely
deserted him He knew that a compliment wfuld
He felt that this girl was somehow diflferent from aU
others, and that his experience of court ladies and
city dames would not help him in the least here. He had
an odd sense of being (by an ..iversion of the proverb)
a swme introduced to a trr gh of pearls-an embar-
rassing business for the s-.vi .e
Yet at last he found words.
w«n? 11 ^^i^''\ ^^ ^^^' "°^*^3^' " tba* yon stouk
wander thus far from the camp, and alone ? "
A rl'^T"^ '/''^?^'^y *° ^«"nie the right to mquire.
A certam brother y instmct stirred within him. mixed
with somethmg else-the mtuitively superior Attitude
^rotlcLe"'"""^"^' "^^^ ^^^--' ^* »™«
"The camp is dangerous." he went on. with some
eagerness, "the new levies, the Badene;s. the wild
tribesmen from the edge of Styria »
She cut him short.
«n!i ^.7 '^ • " ^^ ^"^^^^ b^^k at her, " am I a Scot
and not know ArdmiUan's regiment « »
"th^T^-^^n T^ nnderstand this also." she said,
that It 18 God pity him who meddles with Frances
Wellwood to her hurt ! ' "
" ^^** "^^y b« trne," he persisted. " but the evU
8
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
might be done-done quickly, and vengeance after-
wards were but a poor thing. You mu.f take care-.
lZ';y y°" ^'^« ^^^^^er home. In these stormy
•' iJt? ''" ^'Jm ^'""' *"'" "°^'" «h« interrupted,
for we are walkmg straight away from the camp "
aido « /r *'" ""'**"' ""y ^^^^o*"^! am the General's
aide-a fellow-countryman-in fact. Maurice Raith ! "
nni ^°""f ""*" '*'''" ''^ ^^'^^ ««« ^^»'^n his own
name seemed a passport to him . In spite of his experi-
ence he still took himself very seriously ^
My friend." she said, "neither does my father
permit me to wander without the weapons of the flesh
And some skill to use them."
She slid her hand behind her. and lo ! as in a con-
ZTA A T ""^'^ ^ ^'•*'*' "^ P'«t«'« in her pretty
1. tie hands Ift a moment she had return d them
She bent shghtly. lifted her foot, seemed to touTh
h:firge«:'^"'^^'^^"^"''«^^"-<^»-^^^^^
inJ^^!!!/^'' ^"^ ^ " '1?" ""^'^"^ "P ^^ ^i"^' «*i" «toop-
Zl \L ' 7 "^"'* ^ P'^^"*^" ^ ^^t^^'y «f artillery ?
Say the word. sir. I am a battalion of infantry
a^squadron of cavahy, and a park of artillery all In
"You are a very foolish girl!" said Maurice
sententious y. and with the loftiest kind of disdain
noUikell ' "" '""^ P^^^^^ "^^^' -d d^^
«/ ^^^"J'"/^'^ ^"'"^"^ '"''^^y ^^ "ght angles, "you
are much too grand a person to waste your time
m talking to sUIy girls. I wish you a good afl^r!
noon ! I will show you it was true about the cavah-y
at any rate." "'»"j'»
She hailed a parsing orderly, who was taking an
I.
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 9
«" M.'Ti^?K." "*." ' " ""' <>'"n«'>ded. curtly.
__ Major North',, mistreM." wid the man.
Thi. ™i;fi ''^"' = ' ''"' "••« '»■» ""ck into camp
Th» gentleman .ay. that it « unaafe to walk ouWde
The wldier did a8 he wa. bidden, without a word
It wa, evident that he knew the girl perfectly She
mounted easily, just touching the orderly^, out
stretched finge™. Maurice Raith^toodga^nl
Good-bye," she cried, arranging her Bkirta • " r,,,,
away and «m> that the General^, fetter, a^^rettT
copied or you wiU be !.ipped. And never walto
oT/ou r- ™ ""' «""• '' » " '»'"' «»' ""/g^ow
She waved her hand and was gone '
ce^r'tLfil!" ""SP^ *■" '°°*' H« ^^ "'""Uy
,Td?rf tW K soldier-servant laughed the li
side of that horse. He could hear the t. : Mlverv
tnll of France, WeUwood-s mirth. He res ,' S
he would not think of her as •• Flowcr-o'-the-born "
thing m such circumstances.
Ill
m
CHAPTER II.
The Chaplain op Ardmillan's Regiment.
S K vf ^^^' ^"^^"^ ^*°^"''' ^^^° the motley
hosts which conquered TaUard at Blenheim were
l^anX?. ;;: 'K ''^y- ^^* «^ accustomed wis
Frances to the sight that she only glanced up occa-
Tscltr ^ ^"ff-d-blue of L own regiment
of Scottish foot crossed the road or stood grouped in
argument at an inn door. Away yonder rode General
Lumley m command of the sJots Greys with a
brilliant staff about him, but Frances mefe y Todded
pleasantly to one or two of the officers of the sLider
and the Divine Decrees with her father. Then came
the press again-Wurtemburger light horsemen gow!
banded and fretful like wasps, blue Franconian Lfars
!td"anT^'?""^"'*^ broad silver bands at the Siee
t^nh^^^'v rZ"" ^PP^^^^^ ^ ^^"«^^ «f fierce mous-
Ilt^fr^^ °'*fi: ^^^«-d-y«d and milk-toothed.
1 ralv P^°^' °^'^' °^'' *^^^^ «^«^Jders at huge
brawny Pomerar an privates, stolidly pushing
through the ruci four abreast, placid and^^m^!
X lous to mere noise as their own buUocks. Never such
a host gathered together, and never so strangTa place
lor mortal maid to make her home in ^
Yet through the Babel of tongues, the broad give-
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 1 1
and-take of compliments in a score of languages.
Flower-o -the-Com moved easily and placidly sil-
^If/Tt ^u°''°/'°°' ^^^ *^" ^°^« «^ Major North.
She sat him bare-backed, but as if on an easy-chair, one
httle white hand laid lightly on the mane, and her
eyes rovmg hither and thither over the ranged tents
and fur her afield to the long white lines of%he city
fortifications, from which came ever and anon the
bf tTJh^'^'^ "^ " ^'^^ sun or an upward
burst of white smoke as a mortar was discharged
pU^fT^.Tru''^^"^ ** her-they had not been men
eke but the hasty gibe in rough camp Enghsh, learnt
in the trenches and bandied in whispers from post to
^""'^^'0^"'^^^ ^y *^^ q"i«^ «lbow of a comrade.
Ihe Scots priest's daughter, beware ! Her father
^JX 1 ^^,V^^' *^" g^^ °^ ^^S^^^' Once only
Black Kessel of Taxis spake roughly to her. and hi.
tongue clave to the roof of his mouth. On the third
day he died-as it were in the flames of heU-fire ' "
This was no m repute to have in such an unruly army
rTjtj '^t^^'^ ^^' own quarters Flower-o'-the-
torn had a still better safeguard.
From out of the opening of a narrow street came a
?.tr ^ ,f^ c'"^'"'" '"S^^^"* ^^"^g with the per-
fectly-driUed Scottish swing. They were on fatigue
duty, and each carried a mop and bucket, but for
ahgnment and simultaneousness of movement it might
have been a Field-Marshal's parade. And as they
then: hands with one simultaneous unanimous gesture
'h? 1.1^' ^"^"'"^^ movements of the Military
ealute. Flower-o'-the-Com did not smile. She re^
n? K^ *^' ^^°°^ ^ ^° °^°^^ w°"W have done.
tnrTi % ."^"^"^'^^^"^^ "S^*- ^^'^ ^^d been accus-
tomed to It eyer since she could trot about barracks
12
FWWER-O'-THE-CORN.
.nd^oli^ eo the .„,tet-butU „f .be ,oIdie„ „„
I-ome^oH^^^rti^tS''" ^"^-y »-. the
under aeland at DXldLrt""'' "'"' '"*'' '""«'"
in Barbadoes. thermal 'oto?'"T«"*'' '^^ ^hidds
died for her. AndCoes W^ J 2 T"'" °°* '"'™
well as that she bt^atS a^tT T '*' '"''^ "»
thing to her. She countT^ 1 j ^^°""^ ^ ""t"™' a
daily bread, or the b^tw* mI"™"™ "' "•«" a» her
the which lay her al^t^'v^f /'fr -^f^r-'"
waB one-aye, even M^ter Matice RaTt, " ""T"'
to the General, among so many T ^'"*''' "^'^^y
erect as if he had been^I^i ^ Fusihers, drew himself
^iuted, and TJgoT ^^ ^^ ^ "'«''« °° P"ade,
jieLrhJuVrt^a^oe^td'^rd'^^r- -"-'"«»
from her horse. UnS th» t *^"^ "^ "^ghtly
broad unequal patoh^j^ /'"'''''•, ''ine^overA in
«pare. his black Cked'ha^ f° ^" °""'' *«" ""d
talk with a younger man tL ^ ""'• ^« ^"^ *»
and bro^e J with se^e If ^hT l^^*'^ ^''^'^
culated with the cockedh!; uu. u^"^' "■»" gesti-
and that in the veWent 'i' "' ^' ^"^^ '^^^^Y
half-turmng as the sCow of tS m1 ™ T^-^^
path, he showed that onJnVi:- ..^ '''" '"' *•"« white
squinted most ala™ n^ty or rltwT"' ''™™ «y-
X^t;Ci?:tr^f^S?- »^^
wiii Of its owner. But"^;!:^-"^-:-*^^
i
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 13
any attention to this. She ran impulsively to the
eWer man, and without noticing his complLon she
cast her arms about his neck and Jdssed himTcin
tmental fashion, on both cheeks
"Frances ! Frances ! " said the minister disen
gaging her gently. "wiU you never learn m;nnrr?
Do you not see that I am presently in coUoTu^Smv
colonel. Sir Archibald ArdmiUau 2 It isln J^ ^
the regiment. I pray you^ ' in .„H^ °^
Francefl ! » ^ ^ ^ ^"^ "" ^""^ ^^^^e us,
tne s^.t. If It IS an aflFair of the regiment von h.^1
your study, Colonel Ardmillan has "de^oom
and Ins quarters. This is at present my f^nt trde^
and If you have anything to say that I maHoThear'
baW-l" gate leading out of it. But /sT.Zl
e^yXt^li:^'"'''' -^° ^-^^^^- bachelor's
"Your daughter is right, chaplain," he said " M,
th,^*""-."*" '"'™^^' '^*''> P^'haps, more zea
than sincerity upon his brow.
8aid^''-!r'^ *^ "TPt"* "' P^"°'«' tl^ °">id«n," he
and k^embLt^ ''t °' ''^ "P'"'"^"* » --P^
ha^e^:tu',™r.?s. ^^^
rSnl.^"^'' "'"■"''■ -^'-^ interpreted^^-g^ffil^
As he stood in speech with her father rnl««^i e-
Archibald Ardinilla^had kept his Lt ^n his heaT Fo"
eHhirGoTor tb^'^^ ""''' ""^S no reason to fo^r
either G04 or the devd, took smaU heed of the belief
14
el
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
prevailing in the allied armies that the chaplain of
places, and could summon the demons from their
at D:Lr s7 '•''V^^''''^ by his severTn m"
as Donat, Severio, Bandaro, and the like.
These are the instructions of my Lord Duke »
repeated Ardmillan. brusquely, "and I rdy upo^^^^^^^
to carry them out ! " ^ ^ ^
He turned on his heel with a brief sn1nfof;«« e
r ju?.r ,^ twdquartera of his regiment A
hard-brtten tidier of King William was Sif S bald
ArdmJlan and one who had been wounded taT
grom at Steenkirk at the same time as my iTrd^tte
^ZJ:!:^ -"-^ ««■•' ^-^ '-'
You have offended our colonel air] » ao,-^ t> * i
WellwooH " Tko* • X ^„ ,"®*' g*"» said Patrick
vveuwood. That is not weU done. Remember that
Xwtrpf. •'^'^"'^ -- -^ P-^^o»^
" The camp would miss me worse than I the oami> "
camp." ^ "*" ^° "^'^ ''«" '^tl'oot tte
" Without the camp !-Without the camp, bearing
as reproach!" groaned the old ministe^r 3
sta,ghtwaymto a kind of reverie, and forgetting"!
was^^h,s custom the immediate subject of conver!
His eyes were feed, even the wandering left one
growuig set and filmy. ^ ®
"A great quest," he said, raising his hand with a
fand of rapture, and his voice taking on its pul^n-
rZ V >.f?* T'^*-*" deliver the people of the
Lord out of the hand of the oppressor 'm under Z
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 15
hooves of the horses shod for war, and from before the
charioteers that drive furiously ! "
Then he looked at his daughter with a soft sadness,
remarkable in so stem a man.
" But this my dove," he went on, " my ain dove that
sitteth among the rocks, that hath had her dwelling aU
her days among the defenced rocks ! What shall I do
with her in the day of peril— in the time of battle and
war ? "
The girl rose and put both her arms about the old
man's neck.
" Patrick Wellwood." she said, using, in the
Scots fashion, the fuU name of her parent, " is it not
written, * Entreat me not to leave thee or to return
from foUowing after thee ? For whither thou goest
I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge ! ' "
" True, Frances," said the minister, " so it is written,
and of the love of the young to the old. Moreover,'
whither could I send you to keep you more safe than
here under my hand ? Yet for this love of thine to
me-ward, the Lord that is on high recompense vou
my daughter!" f y ,
" Then I am to accompany you ? " Frances put
the question with a quick upward lift of the eye-
lashes.
^^ " I judge that no better may be," said the minister,
yet if It were possible I would even prefer that you
should abide in one of their Popish convents rather
than risk life and honour among the hellish accusers of
the Brethren."
"If you did put me in a convent," said Frances,
laughing, " I would climb over the waU and be after
you m two hours. Aye, even as T did when you left
me at my aunt's at Sawtflats. So, daddy, I warn
you ! But whither are we to go ? "
^«t«'
16
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
The old man lifted his finger. " Hush, girl." he
Come, then, closer to me ! "
And tossing her bonnet over her shoulder and throw-
ing back her fleece of shining curls with a pretty
gesture, the daughter of ArdmiUan's chaplain skipped
across and chmbed on her father's knee, even as she
had done when she was a little girl of four, and Patrick
WeUwood kept lumps of brown sugar in his waistcoat
pocket for the only comrade whom death and the
mahgnity of enemies had left to him.
She set her bonnet momentarily on his long white
hair, anon snatching it off again as if there was some-
thmg of profanation in the act. Then she curled
her toes behind bis leg. and said encouragingly as she
perched herself, " Now. daddy, whisper ! "
It was the old formula with which he had set him-
self to put her to sleep in mountain caves, in the old
days of the Scottish persecutions, and Patrick WeU-
wood smiled as he heard it.
" My child," he said, very gently, « once again you
and I are to take our lives in our hands, and adventure
into the deserts and wild hiUs, that we may brine
succour to God's folk suffering there-even as in thf
days not long agone, we of the Scottish reformation
abode m dens and caves of the earth ! We go to the
mountains called Cevennes ! "
Q "P® 5f^^°°e« ? " queried the girl, " that is in the
South of France, is it not ? In Languedoc, and on the
borders of Spam ! "
" You have not quite forgot your book lear at
.u ??; ^^ ^^'^- " ^ ^^° "^""^^ ^^«aU many things
that I had thought for ever put behind me. For I
am to journey ostensibly as a minister of the Swiss
reform kirk, on a mission to persuade the Protestant
r^seB*feewsJirfK5K
*T5>te*'«i«M*j
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 17
gentlemen of Provence and the Vivarais to assist
the Jmg m putting down the fanatics of the utmost
The girl nestled closer to her father. " You will
not go anywhere without me ; you have promised^"
^oler • """' ^" "'^ ' ^^^^ that' knows its
The old man sighed.
" It is my fate." he said ; " Patrick Wellwood
Will never lang ho snug on the lee side of aay dyke ffis
weird can nae man shun, and to hear the whauoa on
the muir. and the black cock craw amang the heather
a his days is his fate and yours, my lassie - »
Better than to hear the mouse ch^^n oa ,1
the Black Douglas, father." «t^^ed Frt^^s' swayW
herself back on his knee tUl she could Wss Ceheek
" Ah. lass lass ! " said the old man. gently " ve
are young and see no new thing come wrang to ye' so Se
think your am cosy ingle-nook and a drap halesomo
A'simiS'JSK
CHAPTER III.
My Lord Duke.
There is no doubt that of the two young people who
met that pleasant clean-breathed day of July on the
Brabant cornlands, Maurice Raith was the one who
thought most concerning the encounter.
This, of course, was not at all according to the rules
of the game. The dashing young aide and favourite
secretary, to whom his chief looked to draw secrets
from the breasts of great ladies (who sometimes held
such in their keeping), what would he care for the
daughter of the Presbyterian chaplain of a Scots regi-
ment but lately transferred from the Dutch roster ?
^Vhat more natural than that a simple girl like
Frances Wellwood should be flattered by the atten-
tions and admiration of a handsome young officer of
the General's own staflf ?
Yet the truth must be told. It was Maurice Raith
and not Frances Wellwood who went away\with that
old ache at the heart. Fifty times and other fifty he
informed himself that he did not care a straw, and as
often the assertion did him no good. He saw Flower-
o'-the-Corn stand up against the summer sunlight,
breast-high in the golden grain, a poppy (scarce redder
than her lips) laid against her white dress, and eyes
bluer than the blue skies looking down mirthfully at
him.
^Egrr'
s
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ig
she not bidden him go home and set L fh! f1
copying of his letter, ^n pain :f befng wh^p^", "'"'"^
Repcatmg this to himself with quit7W.ecessar.
rehemence,hesuddenly laughed aloud. andrfeltTaS^
for when a man has once treated a matteTas al^e"
be >t for ever so brief a period, he ean never take ii
baclc agam into the region of the h ghesltraeedv
where alone danger lies ^ "tragedy,
nnfl^^l ^"'' """S^-S. put away his ill-hnmour
and made the saner masculine resolve. "The S
vixen! I wUl be even with her yet ' "
This was. however, somewhat easier to pronose th»„
to perform, eonsidering that the young fadyhLbv
this time weU-nigh forgotten his veVy existent and »*
Major North's ehargjr *'* homeward upon
he'tw latf '''i"°' """"'^ headquarte.^ before
u me nearest chair, his plumed hat lying
20
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
broadside on the ascetic camp-bed, was striding to
and fro, dictating furiously. Mounted officers were
dashing out with orders to north, east, and west.
" Baith / Ratth / " Maurice hoard his name shouted
with increasing volume of sound. ^* Baith to see his
Grace/" A young subaltern repeated the words,
adding in a lower tone, " and a devil of a temper you
will find him in, my friend, when he does get hold of
you ! He has been demanding you with oaths and
cursings for the last half-hour ! "
Another muttered under his breath as Maurice
passed, " God's blessing on such as you, my son ! If
it were not for you and your like, we might all have had
to be gold-mounted, brass-buttoned staff officers,
sitting on stools all day long and writing condemnable
despatches."
Thus encouraged Maurice faced his chief, and lo !
the great man's mood was changed. In the morning
when he preached to the lad his languid philosophy of
laisser faire, John Churchill had seemed a kind of
extinct volcano, smoking the pipe of peace and prating
of bygone extravagances. Now he was an earthquake,
an eruption, and a hurricane all in one. He stood in
the middle of the room volleying orders, despatching
brusque commands to the farthest limits of the camp,
arranging rendezvous with his allies, Eugene of Savoy
and the sulky Badener prince.
" That is too curt, Powell," he cried, as he glanced at
a despatch handed him by a staff secretary with silent
deference ; " why in the incomprehensible name of
Lucifer, son of the morning, do you not learn to express
yourself with more suavity ? These gentlemen to
whom you write are at least men and brothers. They
have no visible tails. They stand erect upon their
hind legs. Their honourable names you may read on
^-^im"^
FLOWER-0»-THE-CORN. 21
the lists of the Empire-the Prince Elector of Baden
^:rnltri^iotrd ^^ Ir ^ ^°"' «^-^«' ^- Sub'.
This was the way of " Corporal John " when he h«H
matters of weight upon his mind. ^^^n he had
And Maurice Raith, bowing humbly before th«
r r£^K --•=,^ Sirs
xne army marches at once to the Snnfh f« ^u
Danube perhaps, certainly to the R^^e > ■" *" **"'
Ihe young man started.
"My lord, you promised me a regiment » he said
The Commander-in-Chief laid h,« Ko ^ \.
I promised your father, Kaith, that you should
\if »».«:•*:■.
av-.-.-
«
I i
«a FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
earn it first. Were you my own son you should do no
less. I should do no more ! "
" I know it, my lord," said Maurice Raith ; " only
show me how I am to earn it. My desire is to use my
sword in your service as well as my pen."
" Ah," said the Duke, with not a trace of his recent
haste, " you make the mistake of all brisk young men.
There are more ways of earning military renown tb' i
the way of a bull at a fence. You have a head, Captu..\
liaith, but you need not knock it against a stone wall.
There are a thousand youngsters in ray army who
will load a forlorn hope, run headlong upon a breach,
storm a fort, endure danger and hunger, or lie out
three days in the open fields with their wounds un-
tonded, yet think that they have done nothing out of
the common. But there are not so many — indeed, I
know of but one whom I would entrust with the
commission which I VtriU put into your Lands this day.
His name is Maurice Raith ! "
The young man's heart beat fast at the words
of confidence from the lips of the great master ^' \ u :.
" I am wholly at your service, my lord," he said.
The General nodded shortly.
"You speak French lilce a native, I believe," he
went on. '" For that purpose I advised your father
to send you three years to Paris when we were planning
how to make the most of you. You can talk like a
diplomat, write like a scribe, pay court like a prince
of the Holy Roman Empire— and if you could only
lie with conviction, and control your hot head, you
would be a tempered weapon worth usmg in the great
game of principalities and powers ! "
His Grace of Marlborough paused a little, narrowing
his eyes and looking critically at the young man be-
tween his lowered lashes.
"s^mm^s^^
FLOWER.O».THE-CORN. 23
"No," he said a. if the remark were the outcome
of hu sorutmy. we cannot afford to waste you on
the rough-and-tumble of batUe. The like of these
are good enough."
With a contemptuous shoulder he indicated where
half-a-dozen young officers stood chattering and jesting
ITV * "^T"^"' ^*^^^"« ^^'^ despatches or
merely discussmg the probabilities of the campaign
To your regiments, gentlemen," he cried suddenly
and the concourse broke up in scared sUence as the flap
of the tent fell back. ^
Marlborough returned to a map of France which
was spread out on the table before him. Maurice's
eyes foUowed the direction of his commander's glance,
rhe great man. with characteristic quickness, took his
tnougnt.
" NO'" ^l said, " that pleasure is not for me this
hme, though "-here he hesitated-" my friend Prince
Eugene has promised his most Christian Majesty
a visit one of these days. But you. Captain Raith.
are to make a httle journey, in any disguise that may
smt yoi^ through a portion of Louis Bourbon's dl
minions."
He laid his finger far to the south, drawing it diagon-
ally across the south-east comer of France
^8 gates, which may yet cripple the householder-
the Grande Monarque ! You have heard of the
Cevemies ? he concluded, looking up swiftly
Maurice looked surprised.
letters at your instauce to the chiefs of the insurrection
among those mountains."
"Hush!" said the Duke, smiling, "you are a
clever lad. Maurice, but each morning the mind of a
rjvmr •my-->»-
24
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
1 \
I 'i
J
good secretary ought to be like a clean-wiped slate.
What I write upon it one day has no relation with what
was written there the day before. But at all events,
you are to journey thither, and privately and un-
officially to encourage the leaders of the revolt. There
are to be English ships of war on the Mediterranean
coast, at a place which I will show you before you
leave, upon a date which I will also communicate.
You will see that the stores and warlike material
reach those for whom it is intended— that is, our
persecuted fellow-Protestants of the South of France."
It is possible that there was a slightly humorous
cast upon the Duke's countenance as he uttered these
words, but his eye met that of his subordinate full
and defiant. John Churchill could be a good enough
Protestant when it suited him ; nevertheless, the
words fell somewhat quaintly from his lips.
But Maurice bowed gravely.
" And, if I succeed, will that earn me my regi-
ment ? " he said, quietly.
A darker shade passed over the brow of the great
commander.
" You make me inclined to think," he said, " that I
have overrated your capacity. You will come to me
for your final instructions to-morrow morning at five
o'clock. In the meantime you will provide yourself
with whatever disguise seems to you most fitting.
Remember, you must expect no assistance from us if
you are caught. In that case you will assuredly be
hung for a spy. Pray make your reckoning with that."
Maurice bowed a second time and went out.
" Surely so much risk is worth a regiment, at least,"
he said softly to himself, as he heard the General
summon one of his fellow-secretaries to receive another
letter at dictation.
CHAPTKI- IV.
Pierre the Waggoner.
^^L nol. '''«"»7««hen high road of middle
France, none to vex ub tor a hundred leagues, save only
the occasional exactions and constant oUrbearing
duTt'wrh *Jh r""'-"^ ■" ">» -ty gates, and hf
dust-swirls that swept and waltzed between the
pollarded wiUows of its endless perspectivL
Hey ! Ola ! Allez ! " cried a certain nut-brown
carter to h.s leading beast as it tugged up the iX
from between your knees and puU with the others you
spmd^B-shanked, raw-boned lump of kziness ! " ^
And the cracking of a huge Langnedocian whip
S'tCpp^""^* ''" '"-'' "' ^— '- P--
FrlJ^cT '^Th" '"^''™^ i" *^" """ ^-^y Uke that of
wMer „„«''T """^ "^ "•"* '""""^t horizons,
»Jder outlookmgs upon moss-hag and granite hills
There are certainly some with more flole^ m«l
set on e.ther side, ankle-deep _ thigh-deep, Hot
choose m buttercup and meadow-sweet Th«e
^ ""^f' J'"*" °' "=°*'*8«« hy Scottish highways
and redder brick cottages more deeply smothcr^Tn
ivy at the corners of English lanes.
But for aU that is pleasant in the pleasantest time
i
i "
i
26
FLOWEE-O'-THE-COBN.
iLtUrii' ""f." ?°"^8 " ^ ">« "orfd like «
ready and the wheat standa ripe and level Anrf .„
oZ'^f r T .°."''°'^- --t-™™- btLe^ t^
towns of Eoohe-i-Bayard and Hoo. whose caUing and
abode were expressed in large letters upon the tuSng
of hs three great waggons. A stout young man m
otner folk s affairs was this Master Pierre. He had
documents, too. enough to satisfy an army of inqlei
Had he not the King's own seal for the right^fT^
mto and exit out of iVance ? By prof eSl L w1^
licensed carrier of wine from the recently-!dS
th^ U^ff northern Monsieur Pierre of Roohe-^S^^
cfi.^; f *J ''f ^-otter story, and he had yet another
iiing m these semi-savage soUtudes-leading stranee
^IS ofT*^ "'r":. ^^°"«- "^ fanaticsXt« f
for all their pams. yet daily exposing their Uvea on
desolate waterless hills, where scarct a Cau^I^rd
riieep could gain a livelihood, ever in daCrrf a
ftotestant bullet from behind some jlip^Tush or
tL'^bl^r"' ^^ ' ^''^ "">- ""'"^l fL that
the bulk of the sparkhng wine of the Meuse and Moselle
having been delivered at Marly for the throat of
Koyalty, the thoughtful King Lolus should blH safe
rkT:^he*z"""''^.'"' ""^ ^°""'-«»- -*' -X
casks of the same vmtage to cheer the hearts of his
faithful servants, battling year in and yearTut JS
iS
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 27
hill-preachors and long-hairod enthusiasts in the blue
misty valleys of the Ceveunes.
At aU eveats this which foUoweth is what the afore-
said Pierre of Roche-^-]3ayard and Hoo carried >vritten
upon his manifests and traffic-permits:
" Three great and three little casks of wine of the
Moselle, coinmUted to the care of Master-carrier Pierre
Dubois, of the towns of Eoche-a-Bayard and Hoo—tJie
Woperty of his most Christian Majesty Louis, King of
France and Brittany; to be carried free of all duty, local
or tmpenal, to the King's servants, the Marechal de
Monlrevd and the Brigadier-General de Planque-beina
a present from his most Christian Majesty r
Surely as simple, convincing, irrefragable a docu-
ment as ever was written upon a sheet of paper with the
royal arms of France at the top ! Nevertheless, there
were other things in the barrels besides Moselle wine
and the handsome joUy-faced carter had in early life'
and, indeed, tiU within the last two weeks, owned to
the name of Maurice Raith, while his most convincing
papers had been obtained-weU. as such things c^
always be obtained when "the highest quarters " in-
terest themselves in— wine carriers and their passports
And certainly Monsieur Pierre the Flamand played Iiis
part with vigour and resolution. He wore no false
hair or beard. The stain on his complexion was not
deeper than that which bronzed the cheeks of many a
sturdy foUower of the crawling road waggons Ld
blue-sheeted carriers' carts. Pierre of Roche-a-Bayard
and Hoo had been careful not to overdo his part A
man of the north, he was naturally less inclined to
loud outcries and clamorous greetings than the other
occupants of the roadside inns where he put up. He
had also a certain quieUy smiling dignity which sat
well upon hima
■<AC:Mg!''/iv
28
'1'
'ft
II -ii
I
ill
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
gathering remounts fo" their ""t^ °^'"''-
ened to press his enth-e swt /^™""°*' '^ "'reat-
name, desisting only Xn^f /*"' '" '''^ King's
which he was proee4I^!"rf'fH™^ °' *'«' ""''ion on
age wh^ei th/ca^'^f ^otj^/rr'" '°"' P"*'-
storming tZ«2\L^^rr '"""''^« '"'^
ofthePontRoyai. Three rf th^ Paving-stones
a huge half-nied gknrof a ml""'^ "^ ""^
shaggy hair was bound abo^.f^;,."''"^ abundant
m, hands were tied behTn^tisTot" ^ ^^^ -^S-
the whieh yet another man was endr"" "• '°^-
tighten, while his waistcMf f. j *'""'™'8 *"
it was and etrippedTauT.'rt 1 ""'' ^^'^^ ««
weatherstained and taLL^^.V"'* "^^ badges,
at^ht 3„?^ t«^: - t^oidie™ was Ungbing
alternately raised her hanlT^ ' ™°'*° "'«'
cunies upon all reonSii^'ltt i„T"' J'^P"'"'*"?
threw herself on her Km ^'^'' ^°»*«' "«»
declaring in quite totutS ^S^th'f '"' '»''
nobly gifted by nature w„„u " * ""n so
only proteetor! her master InTf ]*''" '""'y h"
Mo-haU, from'whoserntshe had IT'T ^^^
innumerable and whose "pot "l"''f° '''^"''g"
along the roads of everv co„nf^ • J ^^^ ™"'«i
^0 wine^arrier er- raZ7t:in: way, but
1 !i
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 29
the .Idiers of King Loni, never moved, holdine to
their prisoner and enjoying the scene. Who tf not
they, had a right to the King's highway ? '
But at the very first glance Maurice Raith knew the
man and resdved if possible to attach him to hlo™
AlT i' ? ""^ «'P'y '"■" Keltonhill in GallowaT
Also, what was more strange, an answering gleam Zt
!nm underneath the sombre, slumberoi ^eUds o
the g,psy. In spite of the disguise of carter dre^
and walnut stain the old expert in concealment^
recognised his sometime officer. But not a word
or look betrayed that either had ever seen the oZr
Piem, the waggoner did not hesitate a moment
shout ctbtdr" w'V '™«-**™ p-'-^°-i
snout, clubbed his whip by twisting the lash round
his „m and wrist and strode masterfully into the
knl'vT^" r ^°", "Tf. •'«'<'- y"" sulky, runaway
knavo ? he oned, stnking the bound man acain
and again with the whip across his thickly-thaS
buUct head and naked shoulders, till he moaned aloud
with apparent pain.
The woman rose with a shriek, and would have
flown upon her lord's new enemy, but the priso^Ir
nKwUch""' " ^"""" "'""^'"S --' *~
Z^h»Il^ « "^ ™*'"""' *° ''»" •>". "'o-gli Bet
St^he t^''' "t'*, "'""""y """«'• '"to t«l»°« ^
assault the waggoner's face.
"See you," cried Pierre of Roche-4-Bayard and Hoo
ho ding up his papers to the sergeant. " here ^ th^'
tW r '°^' '^™^' He must needs get
make bad '"" °'''°' '"^ ^^^ ^^"^-' ^^^^ then^to
make bad worse, overrun me in the night. I am
30
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ri
w
sej^ant; ••„« of tho 24th'Grona"rhad1? *«
that wo possessed some claim to that 71 V-
when did the knitted short olo"hes and bro»H K fi"'"
of the waggoner constitute a u^itrot H rMaics°tl^^^
earriS ^qutt /° " aT °'" t*'" """^ ^^™ ^^e
has many em:nts andZtf .''"^""" *"' ^"«
Here. Manse, read the scrawl aloud » ovi.^ *i
sergeant, holding the certifip«fo , -^ 1 ' "^^ *^*®
his finger and thZh '^tt T^^" ^"^"' ^'^^^
running script, and no mln of hL T '?"' ^^'^"^^
^aift to read aueht but h^nl. ^^"/^"^^ ^an make
little of that rmaybe » '^""*~'"'' ^"'^^^' ^'
A taU grenadier came forward and tooV fK^
rXtts^t.:!^ --» oS^t::L"a7r-
tulXtnZcrS nX^"' **■' -^-' P-
That is very well." he saiM « k«+ • -^ x ,
ctt 'h" '"' «-i^i-*y» -^^ -^ e'l r
worth a gold Louis to me at headq^Tny d": - "
" "uy oacK our drunken ostlers Bir » Mo„^-
made a grimace and jerked his thumb behin^hto!
13:
'S
o
e
a
s
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 31
•• Jt .VT"' "'" "" '°°'°'" 'he sergeant ordered-
far be it from me to interfere with tht King's ^e
But when you meet with the Mar6chal de Mont^^i
do not forget to <nform hi, ExeeUoncy what an excernt
and deserving feUow is Sergeant Passy of the 2«h
repment of Grenadiers ! " ^' ***'
" Indeed, I shall not forget ' " miH H,« „.
heartay ; " but in the meantime giv^me a ha^d^r""'
Bhnging this pretty thing, which iTn^ undo, mv thZ"
waggon ; it does not bear the seal rovaJh,7f ^ n ^ • ,^
do^ thirty throats like ^nl ^^aVt aul^^^^^^^^
The soldiers p Jed their pieces with looks of expecta
tion. and with right good will assisted fnbroaeht J
LX thethi^d t P^ "T -^-^ ™ attached ^nd^r'
fromM Of Pierre's waggons. Then each man
from the sergeant to the last-joined recruit wTnTrl
his mouth with the hack of his hand a oW ' T ^
of what ia tno^r,. « nana, a clear instance
otwnat IS known as expectant attention »
Meanwhile, Billy MarshaU and his wif« T?«f », ^
be^ken themselv. n,,^,^^ ^ tL cL"f thfh.r^ef
where they were much needed. For ever since S
had passed Clermont Ferrand Monsieur Ke"e the
One of the men he had taken on at Paris deserted
chirrs Ti: ^nf T ^^ -^-"s
nfhirp ! neighbourhood of that city The
other Pierre had been glad to get rid of bv 1^
missal-a quarrelsome fellow and incWd f^ I
too much of his master's busin^s'^'s^IrTht ifst tw
or fifty imles Master Dubois of Roche-4-Bayard and
Hoc had done three men's work, assisted soldy by such
32
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
n
i;
mere sight of King Louis's uniforms upon the high-
So it was well that Billy MarshaU and Bet his wife
fell into their pla-'es with the alacrity of long custim
B% s movements wera peculiar. He pasfed down
the line of horses, standing a moment in front of ealh
^nke;: T? ". "''" f: °' *^^ ^-^ brass.Lde1
blinkers. Then he passed his fingers lightly across the
beast's moist nose. The horse sucked its Tilth
suddenly m. blew it out again slowly, and the t^ans
Wa^d'TJ'"?^ 'f'' ""^ ^^"y MkrshaU benZ
'r Thi?M '^"^-^IfP^-^g in the new friend"!
ear. This he did, while the soldiers and Pierre were
good Moselle down their half-dozen thirsty thfoate
The sergeant looked after BUly a trifle re^etfulW
his head"tnoT''\''"ru *'"*'" ^« ^^^ ^^ak^-g
his head, knowing about horses, too. 'Tis as weU
n^LT^ r.'"^"^'^ '"'"^^^^ «^^g^-nt. else I might
not have let him go so easily. I should advise you
iTr 'u'"'u^^ P^"*^^*^°° ^^' ^^ before you
are a day older, besides which that callet of his i^
by no means an ill-looking wench ! The ser«eante
of cavalry regiments. especiaUy such as gS ^
recruits-weU, you understand -» ^ ""
ad^cT '^' ''*^^''''' *^'°^'^ ^^ P^°^^^^y fo' bis
"I wiU see to it this very day," he said.
The sergeant of grenadiers looked at him a trifle
strangely over his cup. ""®
" For a man so generously provided with papers,"
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. „
oneself with ™ch letter, „f™V^,t'„r «-" Provide
And where mav T h« .i i ^
said Pierre, humbly "r „1 , °'""'" them ? "
13 you may hear! " ' Ho h„T.. T *'"' '<"• North,
breast-poelfet at that m^mt^? t°t it""' '"""' '" '"»
to kj^w whence su, h .h.^t!^' " ™' '-' - well
the Ce^:;. VMe'ndf Mo'""" *" «°™™» of
when yon oo^e to the 'amo TTk Vroglie-„r
Montjwel; though unler^o'u "have a ^."'"" ""
barrel, of this excellent stuff t. T t ^°°^ "^ny
yours may get picked uptf til" waT"'" ""' "■"" °^
Now, good friends a.^.^* •^"
d I willlil, them for' you" L^:i'p^''" ""t^--".
ice, "and with better .tf^iu^f" ?'«"•« '" a loud
and
voice, "and with better stfffiha„ht h""^ " " ''»«'
»ome time or may be aLin R . '^" '" '^em for
must give me a paper 4^2 that ^°\ ""^''^"^•
t...^ man in your '^o..,4''Ll'tlC,^-^'t
. Bo'lm PhHip-^C^." ^J^fplTir^. "or, at least,
^ rare a psalm-singer TItt T"" * Protestant,
in the palm of his hafd apnlfed h M * '""' "^^^hes
du Chayla converted hhn X ™J^^ ^f'''^^" "-e Abb^
« this Manse, but XT Z^^' ^ ""^ '««rful man
hke an angel, and when set bT""'" hand-of-writo
old route-marcher, otour'^'::^'' '™ ^'^'dfa^t
tttr;^, f - ^- -=in 'ti^^Ctirof
be»Xrt'Si:^tp^s;rt ■ ^"" "- -
n drmking along with his fel?o,v"«J ™™"' ^im
taken Manse's portion down w thott' T^T' ^"^
Without remark), was
3
fcS"*: r^^'':.r'^';r*-\^*r ^r-'2^-""rf.'f
34
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
II
now called forward and ordered to write a protective
paper whi« h would have some merit in it, the sergeant
prompting him before he set quill to paper.
"Write it in name of my Colonel, sirrah— Do
Breslin— do you hear?" ordered the sergeant. "That
will carry more weight than the name of a mere
halbert-shoulderer like me. Besides, since ^e march
immediately to the north, at any rate away from the
Cevennes, to counter the English Duke on the Rhino—
who will be any the wiser? There— done like a
good fellow. A bumper of wine for Manse. What !
you do not drink? Well, your health, Manse. I,
at least, have no canting scruples ; indeed, I would
that more of my company were similarly affected."
And the soldier swigged doM-Ti the tall can of wine
provided for the scribe, who, meantime, was looking
at his own rubication of tbo name De Breslin with the
appreciation of an artist.
As he rose, however, from the bench on which he
had been sitting, with the paper still in his hand, ho
waved it to dry the ink in such a way as to attract
the attention of Billy Marshall, the gipsy, who was
mending a broken strap with whipcord. A glance
of extraordinary meaning shot between the two men,
a glance which, though unseen by the sergeant and
his men, was not lost upon Pierre the waggoner.
" Once a Camisard, always a Camisard," he mut-
tered to himself. "So, at least, I have heard, and
I question whether the conversion of that grenadier is
quite so genuine as his sergeant supposes."
f
CHAPTER V. ^ •
The Road to Keltoniiill.
"And now, Billy," said the wftggoner, abruptly
dropping the manner and speech of Pierre Dulwia
and assuming thoHo of Captain Maurice Raith, " how
came you hero ? I left you a corporal in the Camer-
onians. I find you a ragged deserter, about to be
kidnapped and pressed into the service of the enemy.
Pray explain yourself. Corporal William Marshall
You deserve to be had out and shot, so far as I
can see."
By this time they had raised the mural front of the
Causae of Larzac, and could look away across it
towards the long Unes of limestone crags which rose
sharp as Vauban'a fortifications, out of the level table-
land. The evening was falling swiftly, rose and orango
tones sinking into the V-shaped angles of the valleys
they were leaving behind them. It was Maurice's first
night in the true Cevennes.
Billy Marshall replied in the broad Galloway foil:
speech which a dozen years of desultory military
service had not overlaid even with English oaths or
the slightest knowledge of the language of any of the
countries in which he had campaigned.
" Maister Raith," he said, " yo hae dune a guid turn
to Billy Marshall this day, an' the deil trV' him and
brenn him in reid pit-fire gin he forgets i;.. Bet, do
ye hear that ? "
'■<£'»■'
1I9P
86
h\ vVEH-O'-THE-CORN.
I hear. VV.lImmr' said hin huly. She was seated
found straying upon the nmd and had nipped up C
mit even a cry of HurpriHc. It was for this craft
Sod r.T'^''^ ''"' ^'"^' '''' »^"«^-^' g^-'o-iy
Si;"!.'" ^^^^'"^^"^ ''"^ "p- ^" ^- --'-
" Wcel, licod, then," said Billy, sourly " ve think
o nooht but your belly, Bet. But Biu/'Ma^ha „•
the gu,d druck™ toun o' Kirkeudbright is nao main-
mrios, landlouper, but a wcol-kenncd ZIZ\'\
trade o- hjs am, whilk is juist the makkin' o' horn
»punes. N« „a, «„ honest well-doin' man is BU y
«nd «« mindfu- o' ithcr fowk's „,o„ths as he is o' 2
,, " *^'*' r. .*'"' y™"" *«'«• Maraball," interrunted
JIaunce Ka.th. " I have heard nothing yot to prove
that you are not the deserter I thought"u at fiST"
And what for no, should I no be oot on juist sio
a wee b.t qu,et job as your ain, captain ? " insinuat^
tl.e g,psy shrewdly. •• Ye are no here for your health
n» ym m,cht say. I eould guess as muekle a, that by
Us %: Z K-'^ "■' '>«"'-P-™ that the Auldmicht^
co^ir,'"Ln •"" -^"'.".f "!,"* ''~' "'" immediately
concern you, said the disguised officer. "I have ■
saved you from the drill-sergeants of King Louis I
sTaU have" t^'d r^'""^"" ""•' ' ^o further' ^eXr
Tlie gipsy gave vent to a low chuckle
caotain "T.'""!,"'^* ^' ■"•" "° " ™''t OaUo^ay man,
.w f ' mI, !?' "*• ""-"^^ grandfaither o- ye
cam frae Nitlvside wi' thae weary Maxwells, that hfd
i
i
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 37
nae busincHs to meddle wi' Gallowa' ava. Or ve wad
«.r 8«o said I to Major Grier o' the^^r^
twentieth, 8«y8 I_..Yo ken Billy, «ir a,7tirt if 1
(I<)<«na got leave to Banff (,. if»i; »>[• an that if l,o
^.k; lee^e and .yn": TL ^t"" ""i fp l^^ -V'"
an let Jiet an me ho amm i»„ i l . . '*^^ *"^»
fecht the F^neri^rLt' • he^"^!'. 7„7 '"
Major, him kennin' me an' me kenniri.- ,^
drive aboot my business alldTaV' Berwi'Te' 'ttl
garred me swear on the crossed horn-sp"L That I
wad be back to him in four months' time An' J
wm I.grn the soles o' my feet dinna wear oot o„ the
,J' ?"''" ""'? """"'"^ ^'"'' ''•'» ''»«w the Major of
the Cameronians and recognised that the ^^ wal
worthy of credit, " in that case what are ye ddn' hire
on a mountain in the very middle of Franc' Trntead o1
heading for Antwerp to get a boat bound for Sifh ,°'
The gipsy looked at him ounninglv and kid » h i
grimy finger on a broad and Sf C "U i^ "^
possible that ye may hae your'LTsUTnd tha m" y
?he s^utrr""' ,"' '*"'• """"^'y- " here's a eHo
the south as weel as to the north of France AnH
the shortest cut is whyles the langest fr^v" !•' "^
R„ilbh Jj""^^^''f«npl« of proverbial lore Maurice
Raith had for the time to be perforce content
By thm time the horses were thoroughly wearied
rhc long ascent of the Causse had tried them Zll^W
and It became necessary to rest them, eitherit the
firs wayside inn which presented it,e (, or to lake
their camp upon the open face of the desert Sy
38
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
were however, so close to the disturbed regions that
the utmos care was necessaiy. Maurice Raith took
out a small case of arms whicli had been cunnincjlv
concealed m the sacking under the first waggon. The
eyes of the gipsy ghttercd at the sight
fnif J ^^^ "?t^""^ ^"^ ^^'' gully-knife." ho said, " an'
fa th a pistol or twa doesna come ^^Tang whiles in
this haverin' oollandish country » "
UrU.\TTu^ *^"' "''"'^'^ "^ P'^^^^^ ^"^1 «tot care-
w h "h" U ' r'''' "'"'^'^ *"^ *^"^'>'^d blue blouse,
with chuckles of une<,ncoaK-d satisfaction
•laith na." ho said, "1 haena caniet as muckle
guid poother and lead since 1 waded Boyne Water at
the tad o' auld King Wullio ! And ' yer honour haes
the hke for Bet there. I'se uphaud tha'i she wUlmak'
t very bit as guid a use o' 't as either you or me r '
tricks here ! Ye are no on the Corse o' Slakes, you
?nHi«f ' v""' ^'' "^^ '^'' ^""^^^ drove-road iyont
Carlisle. Ye are to threaten none, take no man's
purse, put no wayfarer in fear. You are to consider
yourself under my orders as much as if you were in
the camp of my Lord Marlborough himself. And
more, m word and deed, you are to treat me as Pie^e
l>ubois. the waggoner of Roche-i-Bayard and Hoo
who has picked you up by the way, and is likely to
make a monstrous bad bargain of you " ^
u^Ji^.f' 7""' *'"' ^^^''"' y^ ' " ^^ ^%. the gipsy
w th the deep inward suUenness of the race of Lvnt
when tlicy feel themselves coerced without reldy'^'^
Pay attention, then," said Maurice Raith - or-
maybe ye have heard of the Caird o' Carsphairn ? "
Ihat was hangit juist for a chucky hen and a dozen
^ mair nor half o' them clockit ! Oh, the meequit^
O 1 1 A fine, heartsome, able-bodied man, too ; at
"S
I
I
f
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 39
least, so they tell me ! " Bet struck in, with a suggestion
of the Irish keen in her voice.
"Even so." said Maurice Raith. "and his Grace of
Marlborough standing by to see that the knot ran true
and Bet r» ^'^' '''" ^ '^^' ^°"" ^^'^'°S. Billy
With this he strode oflf to test the halters and heel
ropes of his horses. For the true Caussenards, Cami-
sard and Cadet of the Cross alike, were famous horse
stealers, and every stable in the limestone country had
two doors-one that opened outward and the other
mward, and which continued to do so in spite of drawn
bolts and shot bars.
So Maurice Raith, tUl he should find himself safe in
the camp of the Camisard leaders, preferred to stable
his horses at the ancient sign of La Belle Etoile. and
guard them himself with his pistols upon his knees.
•*♦*♦•
It was, fortunately, a night short and beneficent,
whose shadow swept so swiftly eastward towards
tlie sunset over the middle southlands of the Cevennes
Down m the vaUey of the Tarn, fairest of the glens of
1^ ranee, the mghtingales never ceased smging, but the
chiU spread far up among the fantastic peaks of the
JJourbie. and here, out on the hoary scalp of the Larzac
the frost bit bone-deep. Maurice wrapt his cloak
closely about him and sat sleepless, listening to the
voices of the night ; sometimes there was a singinrr
rustle as of leaves i.nd distant waters in that waterless
and treeless land, sometimes the cry of a far-wandered
lamb seeking its mother over the waste, or the hawkmg
cry of the smaU owl. quartering the ground in quest
ot held mice and great horned beetles.
But as he sat there motionless, Maurice had time to
40
1
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
think, and was cratefnl t* , i
he had been ablfTo doso w Z'f T°" """' ""' *'•»«
he left the camp of tLZv , 1""^^ easy mind since
dealt severely w^o: ZvmZ uu'" ""r"'- "" '>»''
for the good'^of hil g wlu but*^'' '"'^ '!™^'"''
relief to have evsn l,r ' **^ »" infinite
I'V he knew the ioL " "'"'r;^ "•"'" ™"'' dangers,
eorporal of Ln erofZ, T ""' °' ""' '""""■no
»t™gth, his „n™ervr;„''" "™™f ' ""^'"y- "»"
in time of danger * ^ '^'^ ""'* '■'""1^ -^'onree
the perilo„^"bl2n^'o^tltr V'"' """ "'■" "P™
love could keep hTmttre '^''«™««- i^ "oney or
C orshX^ti"^^ --•>-''> "r"'"^ "-■'
Maurice continued to look into ^h'e '"''' ''t'' •""*
waste of nothingness H^ J .? ^^^ indefinite
tarily to the S. vSon he . T' """^ '"™'"»-
com that day abofe theM '' T" '"^""S the
figure, the h>astonlAintl^7!r*' "«''* g'^'i^h
the skies, at once sanS^H ,?' *'lf "^'^ "■«»• than
Would h; ev^sl rCif/^*"" diamond-bright,
little matter whether or 7o ^°"'«""«'« 't seemed
add":L"^r^reh°;eltt t T" """-»«• i»
his career, could m'atrd t,, ''5 f' ^ °"*««' ""
weemen," as his Aunt 1V„ „ " S'" '"°'«^'f "'h
this he sraikd fo/r, T"'*^'" """^ ''«^« »i<l- At
a moment bloulC'l'T^'-'!'''" »veT,assed in
was bringing home a S ♦ fu """""g''. ""d lo ! he
«aith. o^n iiZ::tZml'ZlTZ °' ^t'"
=^«^:^iaivtftnr ^^^ --• '-*-:
-pstow^eleomehLtifetdrirXVof
■''^i h ..•^WV^^""-
ll
f ?
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 41
child of her own had evTrhin n I T "^^^'^ "«
cherish all such aTZT'Zti:^!^:^,^^^^^^ "'^^^
desolate-even as Maurice RaithT. T k ^"^^''^ ^"^
mother's death. ^^"^ ^^^'^ «^"^« his
For a long time the vision diverted him w 1 1
Dringm the bit lassie oot on siccan a dav » %hn /
seemed to speak from ver/fai awa? " r„ ? J"'"!
t «ear cool mists ot sleep, blue and
S^'k.'-liL
1
i
i
i
I
42
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
f r^ f k^ ^ . "^°™*'*» with the least regard that ia
to the meaning of the worrls wk„* *u , '
bride to be caUed ? ^^^*' ^^^"' ^"S^^<^ ^^'^
Why, Flower-oUhe-Com, of coursL
^ And as he slept he dreamed, and as he dreamed he
CHAPTER VI.
TirE Mysteeies of Love.
Peehaps, for who knows tho mysteries of th.
.nfluonoe of ^oul on soul, tho team of^hc n,^ht wh dt
descended upon Mauriee Kaith as ho sat with is
p.stoU on his knees, wrapped in his eloak „p^„ the
tufted sealp of the Larzae. overpassed theTue or
two of m«ty. frost-scented darknl which serrated
lZjTt:aTt double-Windowed roof Tam t^
wnere sat a girl, her chin sunk in the loined r.«lrv.o
t'rthrsm' "itT 'n'^p'*" -""^ XS;
upon the sUl. She looked out northward and watcherf
the Star y Bear sagging lower and lower as tlTe niS
wore on The chiU of the air struck cold X ?hc
outer waU of the chamber, so that through the c. "mon
peen wmdow-glass, the star at the Plough comtr
(wh,ch a good eye can see double) ,was biSJ X
aunghng ^deseenoe of red and blue and^cl
green, iiut this did not ninff*»r tu^ • i.
were full of a deeper haze* thTn that ^^ATe
valley of the Dourbic far below, the mis^^ w^atr of
a maid's eyes as she looks into the futu™ a °d L^
wonders yet unrealised. 1-his haze comes otSmZ
tastes her happiness and finds her revised H-v...^
.weeter perhaps, upon her lips, but s^meW oX"
than she had imagined-her soul no longer goh^
44
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ii. I
within the toh Then T 1T^^' '"''*»« ""P"™
gro„ misty And ?sLlh«:.'T?!' """ >"" "y-
with the vfew o "anrelX'^:^:'" ""«' *'"'" *« ""'
tion°wrilttf°™ r*^'^''' "'«' "- """i'ta-
to J^^'^^^toher, as a free-hearted maiden's ought
lived (so she told heJ()wouU he W^ '"''".''''''
perish one lock of hi. IhTte ha^" Th:t"the h*°
-uld W away thet^i;u1„rr.ir ISmtT
x;^S;-t iLeXt fr^hds ?
.e. an int:ef '^IJ^'anTtC: Zo^d pt^
bhe communed much with hora^if *u- • , P^PP^-
indeed natural Fnr .^ ^' *^'^ ^irl, as was
ecu natural. j<or there was no fripnH nf u«-
of men Yet ofS? th? ,T "^"'"'i^'y « world
her father For f.. . '\° ''"''"' """ ""^ well-
ofArdX-sX:tt'::x\:::^.tj:t^^^^^
She was watched and euardpH i.t^ ^"-
aa eo her dtuytlt! c^ st^ t^ tt? tit ^
38
)t
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 45
s;£r£re^.i: -- K- c*»,
eager-eyed youth of t,i„ . ^ °' * ""^^^ o' ^room an
presently mounting to his brow ,„T, ,, ""S^"
inthestan.menng'accen'jo'rt:!'"""^ "^ '''"'
She thought not a little of Maurice-Captain Raith
of h>8 Graee's stall-thought Icindly to^ Ob
she knew him well and 1,,., J ^' ■.' ""' y*'-
Were not these Ih L tflk 'd n^T "'^ '""*•
faced, hard-bitten warM^rn m^'lT" *" «™^«-
Presbyterian oifice;^ of AXiha„t SpT.?""*^
ffe^ui^t::^, --^ -j^^-^^^^^^
of battfe, murder anfrddtfdtrh 1^.'^ ^T"""'-
cast as the pained savage swooS 1 • ,^'"« ''"'^-
Ne. England'vaUey. or f^ i m^.^'ht fef 0?*!^ ^ ."'
:™e:z: t:^ ir ttr ' <"^"™ '^^ ^-^:
would s4u, and jo^ii' s.^n: ijr„s':;r^''
be sdent or his hearers tirU of lltening ""'"
And all the whUe Patrick Wellwood fv'h-, I j 1 • ■
the desert with one Mr. Richanl^Cat;::^: ani rMdJn"
46
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
with Will Oonlon and that other Lion of the Covenant
n the last surging charge at Ayrsmo.,,. wouTlTi"'
tl^o conversation to a higher plane, by ealir„. uZ
t eso gr,™ fighters to ob«=rvo the finger o uX"
the thmgs whieh had been, which were, and espedallv
the things which slionld yet come to pass "'P'"'"'"^
hef ZoM eU '""" '"'\'^«™»'. Fences leand
An,! • T- ■ "'" "P™ "«' ^"indow-sill and smiled
rff a L„"i 7^"' """"™ ^*"'"' a'™ smiled
«a f a good angel visited him in sleep. And so
perhaps, one did. '^ ""•
and'LrH *? '''^■''•■"'rV'P™ "'« »»"''"■ window-^ill
and loolted abroad, a belated moon rose, large nalo '
and crumbly with age about the edges. ^ ^ '
Iho waning of the moon is the time to see the Causse,
rmmd fZ ':7°,f"™S'' *" hrive a level horizon all
round, fiom which ramparts and towers arine t„ .k„
eye built of bleached and shivered bone? Out on Z.
dim waste thee huge shapes glimmerTddenly up , ke
::.t'rtr?r''"' '"" '^^-^ -«' -^motL^o/t:
.rJiJ'LdT.' ^'5'""" "'"' worm-eaten above, too
pey and forlorn to east a shadow yet bright enou-h
thi!Ta"„rfnd that '^^'»™' "■«> "^ sprites haunted
nw waste, and that many Caus-^enards had seen the •
Wild Horseman shriek past upon the blast, the flro
blown far to either side from his charger's no t Us and
As i-rancts sat at the window and watched the luto
moon rise, she was aware of a crouching line of dart
jJI V"^*— .^.,r
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 47
figure that disengaged themselves one by one from
ho ,™L "1""' '"°'"""'" """80. and LracZ
tho space which separated the last houses from To
outer defences. For a long moment each ^wed he d
and bent pair of shoulders wero silhouetted lata
tho great flattened oval of the moon as it nSre^Z
stowbr up out of the valley mists. A gunTa^/^'
black hero and there. A scabbard cUnked shar^lT
wajs, a slant bayonet gleamed momentarily like a
w ow leaf turning its pale underside to tho blL
iTances Wellwood and her father had reaehe I f^„
wT Ilhrnv™"""^/ V-'-'-P'- -"™^'^
bvLrLd r„ 1"'' 'he I"™"^'™* oantoa, of
owit^oriand. Tho pastors of Geneva and the Doliticil
kade,B of that place had their own meam of com
mun.cat,j4! with the districts whoro their feSow-
rehg,omst3 contmued to make sueh successful ted
cfrh U '"""' "' ""' ^™8 "»«' the aU-powS
wo^and v'"J'"'^,™°"8''. theroforo, for Patrick VVell-
Zlv^l ?'""' *" P"^ '""' *e fastnesses of
the Covcmies nearly a month before a certain Pie^
tto waggoner, of Bochc-i-Bayard and Hoo. made T
encampment upon its outer margin
Nevertheless, so mysterious are the waves of
soW^ Tw ;■*"* P"^ »"<-^ certain seStive
spmte. that Frances WeUwood. a maid of camn^
and barrack-yard,, where trumpete are nM.t?y blown
and „en file out at all hours on errands dark ev" to
thoT T' T' '"■"""'"S that was not the elm rf
.It o^thr St f^ trough her marrow at the
bcf f!th^rr:::!/™?Kt"d""' ^"^ ^t ""'^■"y *"
uicrs rooia. Ihe door was unlatched. Sho
'fe
,/^-
48
FLOWER-O'-THE-COKN.
where she knew it .ould ha^btnTotd FofZ
rrSe-^:.----^w£
then he is very forgetful ! "
For Frances had bound her father by a creat oa h
not to go out and wander alone hour aftef hour ^
"pf„!l ^ ^f "^ ** *^^ fi'^* «'^g« of Namur.
biddentirr,^^^ ^r^^'^' '' ^- --V' she had
Ulai hutTf M^^' . ^^^"^ ^""^ "°* *^« banks of
Ulai but of Meuse, and a musket-ball, be it French or
English, or moulded by the Holy Roman Empire is
no respecter of persons ! " ""ip>re, is
" Either ho has broken his word, or he has taken t^
dreammg again." she murmured to herself? unhappiW
h^d sTn tn^i^t remembe:.d the sUent e.odu^ste
naa seen, and in a transport of fear she clasped her
.f
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
J
i
40
«B«"tt''h' :;;?' "o^U- "■'^7 ""^ ""'«» him away
without tX „,.''»'"'"''" "" ™"" ■'«™' h-ve gone
down a dark fold ofT,„f h i "''T'"''' ""^ *»"<'"«
head, gathering !t°'„'rhfn^;''.'\7 " ""''"" ""
mantilla. Then sin™ tl.7 T. ""* "*""«■■ <>' «
she drew her fktZ^. ".*^' P™™^''*' t" >« ""^
window waa hiah i„w ^" '''°"'' ■"""" hor. The
though, in^ll et'sc "It '°. "" ""''"'«• '"-roHaiWo ;
built by the tZoZ '"'"'"'"•'' °' """ °W wal
Frances^ wSJZ'^ k" J"' "T""""* «"°"8''. But
father had gon^ out and . °^'"" ""^ °' ''• "er
taken, ahe eouM d tnd abo'' SI,;""" ""^ "" '""'
ho had not paaaed her d^t „nhe rd Sh7h "/ ,*"'"
too wide awake "nneara. bhe had been
wMe^ h^rThtted'Zr"' '!"" "■" ""' -"-^
niche, had ad^r lit o'n 'T '"'" '>'» P"^-
Aoeor^ingly, «herrLd'tekX°f a„T: t/''^"
handuponthe]atchea«iI»,>...i, jT' ' *""'"« hor
open, '^he came Sfhe tut^'^'T'""""'"^'"'
wall, and found heraeff 1*%^ u t"'^ ^ *8»'™t «
stair, which (aa in „T„' of i/h "" ° "" """^Me
part of her native l,^H?^ '"""^' °' *''" "astern
the third, sC w!?hlrS ^"^ ^^"""''' ""'• -"
had altogether vanfaL Ih fu *■*"* *" "•« '«"=y
Pie^i^ Lath ^frrahrd"'""' ™ " »«" ""
twenty, listening. Evortwhore.'" """ ■"«" "°'"''
sUenoe. The hlaek win^:^'':! t^Xrrd%C
so
FLO\VER-0'-THE-CORN.
|£«%'v
.n ctp IdoT "r "'^""^' •^^"-' -<i drowned
rato thorn. Hor l.ght Hiftcd down scarce briLhU-r
than so much star-shino ""gnwr
..Ch «„TT'"*''%^;r"' ''"'' P"' •«" hand to tho
ptough and ,ho would not go back. RoHolutely -ho
nor latior. Ho had taken hix littlo nxl doiil.lo
volumod Covenantor', Bibb wth him Sl.o Id
m«do euro of that. So it appoaro.1 to Frano^ /^
not hkc^ that ho would havo gono forth ., anT
other. But the old fighting-blood of tho min Z
"n» atV"' """^ "' '""^''"'"' "»" fo two cC?
hiT t'hnf .f y™""™; "'Sht poaBibly have pen,uade<l
h m that It wa» stiU a reUgioua duty to how Ai,a<r in
En tZt '"' '*"'• A'""""' r«''^" ' WeuS:
ZTi- ^!f u ' ,'«''f-'<"»inino uncertainty. Swiftly
a^f,^ ^^■''L'' f '•'^ "P ""« ■"""»- cloao^and down
ano her. tm she found herself within the outer belt of
garden., whose multitudinous intereeeting walls made
such e.xccllent fore-cover to these Puritan ZZts
"ve^L'^"'"' 'P*^'""' ™'"'<^- -»■>« «■« Hi^'
I K^""" I',"'* °"«" o"™?!" 'o"nd her way out of the
dSt t ^- ^f^- «" "*" * ^^''^ ^""''-''at more
r^l ^^-."'^i.'- ^'" "'"'' » ''<«"> ""-"o of direction
(when outs.de the walls of a house) Flowor-o'-the-Cor^
presently succeeded in surmounting the last sto™
FLOVVEB-O'-THE-CORN.
•I
\
whi.,h,li.f,.„,|,,,,,,",,™. •'','<''•.;," dry trench ... ,
Frances could 1 h,', head „„ l\ "; ,™''""'" """Twrt.
U-no of hi. charw ;^ „ AnorT. "■" '""""'"
h«r car a mntallio .„„™i « i. "'""' "■"»« '"
on the hatHcwnV " „H '"' ,«"'"'>*',l hi, pioco
motionica, a, thZ ' I?i^ ,■ *"'."*' """^ -"rthward,
"kyhno. ''"""' '"n™t«no pinnacle, on the
i>iH boat. HiH wntPh fl u* ^'''^ "^'^^^ ^nd of
^..at PcTfu„ctor;to J:;r eX StT "°'""-
part of the effoctivn fi.^j,*; / "^^^ ^^® greater
f«i..t in the diSr . 'rr^ht^'^r- «""
and ekirta and „pe.l ha»tSy acr^^thc "'' '"" "'""''
of tho shoop paaturo in »Z T T . "P*"™ «'««'
-hohad^^n-ieirvC-Xnt^ tho expedition
an?;hor«.™;htr„,l^^r' ir'''"'' « *-'>
«kca,a„.c™thati/:rdr,ft:r:-r''°'"-
Buta^thedarCrLifthrwa'rrrher"^
ttt a*!:„T >oria«:^i '"-r^/ °~ed
like a broke^n tZk^TKn '"""''"''^ "■'"'«•
the line of their marX = '°°°"' »'"'™' »
ml!:;^t X^l^r:^;;:?, °''"°- '-ediatelv
52
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
M
up under ,he m J, «, l^roveLZ tv f
farm-bestrewn vaUevs beneafh ^:'*® ^*"»' *»omely,
«-night .„d oock^ cZ ot,^etZ ^^ ""'"<'
of the narrow none, <-l™,„„ j j ■ ""^ darkness
with a sense If S^shr^iri""'^. ■"""" '><''• ^hen
low sierras, the C^t t :^o?re" r ''f T'^ "'
There. there-quiU^e^ W t "^""l^'oo"".
of paUid roolTlei^J^ no^L^"!: J" "f '«
hundred yards »Pm.= J^ "ownere more than two
of a natural amphithX*^ '"' "■" "^^'"^ '""O
glSoT Ali^te"!!''"''"'""'--"'" - 'W
saw a man spring ereot .-^ .u "'''''' *«
He showed black L^ a slale-n""/? ""^ '"°'^-
to the signal hereTnTheA ht^'"!^""^™- ^™'""
oO. Cnging loudl, am„ng'X'r:e"k:trre',;X'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Th,.re Jl, r r ^- "^ "P*" *"<> hoad-.talb
ground, andatn^^auu"^ """ ''™««'<"' ^ «">
haS::^^ :2"?^™^ *■"' ^ing-.. waggoner, was in the
waggons, then 'the commisJ^Ti"!: ""'^ T ■"■"
laat of aU the official 31 i^u u f Pookets, and
tfa casks of win* "*"* '"*•' ^'' «>* "Pon
thite'^l!.:;''™ "" '^'"^ "P™ 'he faces of the
" We wiU m^ke h m L r '^f^er among the assailants.
KingWa^oneiTa^ ^ "'u'"' ^'"«'' "'"« """l ""o
Marshal's c^mp X. ^'T "^ '"^ '«"» "'o
Wo^.tCLa^L-ttdl^"^ "" '""^""^
the t^„*t: 7"^^ ?f ,7' ""' yo". brethren.
voice stejy. "Set S J ""'"""""'^ """"«"
the lips of fvil-do^ Itk hi """y "•« ""»« 'or
^ anger and trembW ^n 1 f" '"P °' *«"• and
and soul quick uxTheU ^^ ^~'"" ' ^' ^y
ar^anTSr „r^°' «-" ^- - the.
i
64
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Jl
M
C.ti».t.. He speaks truth aX^lioM ,'"" ''™'"'"'
Ihen Catinat, of the folk caUed Camisards ]ift«I ..„
w^'^xsr '""''■ ^' '^- -'- ^^
Hear ye, people ojf the heath and of fh« »,j„i,
mtmrntf
given His people power to breT'^e fwLd t^ kS,".^
Z\Z bo^ ^"""^ !"" •>" aifkr:hT' Jther^Ih'
"p'TL^teateriS!:^?.' '^-—^
ertThT^.r^rr ''"'«•"'• -->'«» -"X'^r
or'7rdr„'r..t'sit''i"t ""• *" ^""r " '°°'
knees. " What i«LT» ' /"'"^ "P '™ni his
these die ? " ^ " """■ """" °' '""e Bond ? ShaU
<l«^^rfo^aXet with"""' '"" ""''"'■ P«-'"«
And Catinat added tfl'^;\;. :rrr '" "^^ """''•
must first be ont «ii f ^u * Canaamtes wlio
pe^leSo':,!^^^^^^ - the
Bnt hrfore a weapon could he unsheathed, the H^ht
W
■g*
•'^'i^iT"
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
65
.t 1<?'SS.''tf*" '1^ •"»«» >•■■-».
ova. Remember Hto'XoT^H 1"'"'^ **"" <•» us
take the ™ord ahaU ^ri^^i '?."' *" *''«y ^h"
remember alao Him wL^^^tr^^ *" '"f •, ^"O
pr^s servant which SirT^r'ttZ-' *"'' "'«"
with al- their horses anf gefr''"'^^''^ ^ '^^ ^f «°
done evil, q thn fm.-u * .o"'*^- ^nen, if they have
hands, le htm T^e 7T' "'^ *« °" "•«-
Brethren of the Bond sWth! ^'"^ '"' »»' the
" There is maftor in wh!wr~?' '" °°''' """d! "
turnmg the rnti^abf t ZtKe'^Kr''^ <"«'•
effect of her words on hi» In ^ ""S*" »«» "'e
village with themTuthlt™.'" J''"""' *^ «he
" Nay let t^.™ ^" ? " ** '"^"d there ! "
Prophcf; "pollrntthe^^amrofr ■; ""^ «-"
presence. aI Agag brouThtr^^i I 'f"' '''"' """ir
shall the sparing o?th«« 5 l"^ ^ ^'"^ Saul, so
righteousnL"? ^ """"" ''"twecn you and ^ur
:^.?:Se!:£i£F-: rested'
66
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
i I
remained a dark-browed minority, men of much
suffering and many travailings, eye-for-eye and tooth-
for-tooth men, who continued to edge nearer to the
prisoners, fingering restlessly at their weapons.
The quick instinct of Frances Wellwood caught the
movement. She drew her pistol and set herself deter-
minedly in the front, standing almost across the pro-
strate body of Pierre the waggoner. In the feelilo
uncertain light of the lantern she saw that a cruel gag
had been thrust into his mouth. She bent down and
released the V-shaped twig, wrapped about with a
handkerchief, which had been used to hold the jaws
apart.
" At least let the man answer for himself," she cried.
" Who and what are you ?— Speak ! "
The waggoner was too much exhausted with his
late rough experiences and present pain to do more
than lift up his finger and point to the second of the
three waggons, that which carried the largest cask of
wine. It was marked with much distinctness : " For
the private cellar of the Mar^chal de Montrevel, a
present from his most Christian Majesty."
^^ "There," said Pierre the waggoner, hoarsely.
" Let what you find there speak for me ! "
h
CHAPTER VII.
The Chief of the Camisabds.
Then was seen a wonderful sight. The plunder
of a King's waggons by the Camisard peasants of the
mountains.
" Respect private property ! In Jean Cavalier's
absence I command here ! " cried the tall, red-bearded
man. " Take only that which bears the King's mark."
Nevertheless the men actually sprang upon the great
cask as it lay in its cradle upon the long waggon, and
with hatchets, crowbars and other waggoners' gear for
clearing obstacles from the road, would doubtless
quickly have reduced the barrel to its component
staves.
But Pierre the Waggoner, from where he lay, still
bound (though now ungagged), upon the rough pebbles,
said hoarsely to Frances Wellwood : " Tell them to
knock in the upper bung; but, for the present, to
leave the lower."
Instinctively the men obeyed, and this is what they
found. Across the whole length of the great cask, just
above the lower bunghole, a flooring or partition had
been built. Beneath in the lowermost hollow there
was still a sufficiency of drink to satisfy many thirsty
souls — that is, if anyone had taken the notion to tap
the King's puncheon.
But above, all was dry as a bone, and the Camisards,
t-Emm^
68
Ml
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
banncta with various iascrinl.^nJ t 9"""^">
comforts for the woun,)«^^T "^ ■■ ' "«^'«""» «nd
able packet of m nZ. ' ^?''"""' *'"' » «<»>«'der-
as follows : '^ ^^^ '""P'^' '" """tin, and endo«od
«»% rou/«, ^ BocS-BayZL^Too "^- ^"-
^ Marlborougu.
Eugene.
by othe«, most of whom o!!- ^^"^ *" reinforced
protected lamps .Sir™ " T"'^ •""*"»• «»<» rough
bams iu the country "'' "^ ^" """^ » ""Wcs .fd
liffrid^tr.n'd't.k'T* '"" "- ''"-
multitude as each'ner'di^TotlTarr T^'''^
nient was made AnH ~;j^°'^®'^>' ^ ™^ ^"*^ ^"na-
village folk whoSftL H ^ f ' "'^'^^^ ^' the Poor
hoavL, jo rXfe^^^^^ ^^"^ towardftho
eliaunt : "" °°' ^'^^''d »« the old Huguenot
Jeliovah! Jehovah!
Oroire en toi, c'est la ie
Augmente nous la foi.
Amen I Amen t
Tot the shining field-nieoA «^fK v -
5 mia piece, with its^mscription in
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
CO
etters of gold : " To our fellow -religionists struggling
for hberty, from their Brethren of the States-General of
Jloliandr Heemod to bring these poor ignorant peasants,
driven and harried by the great and powerful of their
own folk, into one company with the whole Church
of the Fh^t Bom, militant on earth. At last they
knew that they were not alone. The glitter of the
polished steel barrel was more convincing to them
than many embassies. The Lord's Folk, embattled
on other fields, remembering Sion by other Baby-
lonian waters, were not unmindful of them, God's
poor persecuted remnant on the Cevennes.
And so the solemn chaunt went upward, mingled
now with the weeping of women, now drowned amid
the excited shoutings of men, as Pierre the Waggoner,
mightily recovered by means of a draught of his
own wine poured down his throat, piloted them
through his stores, reserving only the packet done
up in oilcloth for a future occasion. And all the whil-
Frances Wellwood watched him, a stran;,'e remem-
brance or vague ovasivo something teasing restlessly
at her heart.
As for Pierre the Waggoner he had recognised
the girl of his waking vision in the Namur cornfield
at the first glance, even while he lay there on the hard
pebbles bound and at the point of death. But,
perhaps remembering his small success in his capacity
of aide to my Lord Duke, the thought came to him
—"She shall know me no more as Captain Maurice
Raith, but since she has saved Pierre the Waggoner,
Pierre shall I be, and we will see if her hoarTis as
liard here as it was in the camp at Namur ? "
The process of disintegrating Pierre's stores was
almost concluded when, with the fast brightening light
o: the autumn morning, breaking in waves of roee
\^^' ^
w
60
'I
< If
! .'
FLOWEB-O'-THE^RN.
A» they came in .ighHwet o° rV*"" '''•' »"»«•
*d s^yo^ti, Tyo'ru; '"' «"-^- "Why
you roturned safe and soCd 7" """'^ """y * ^.4
inese were a few nf ih^ u x
dn-ghter put to thi c° a„i!,^'^* 1""*"™' "hich the
his face. *°" '^^^Ked up tenderly into
^fon^'uXmyl^'f. ^^^f' ^^yh-P- with being
cheek. " but ve^ J^Zt *^^ "'"',"'»''• P««ing he?
me. Thi, night^ia:„7,-"' -riehed ««""
dehverance. Yea, my feet h.l * ..^ ""« ""W of
way. payemented'^^ '^^^ *™"«» » a nar«.„
and overhung with al? «?. ■ . ^"^ """^ Precious.
Pran^slX.Xut'S'^th ^<:'^' '"""^ ^o™-^-
the wond„,us sight of t^^m'^^^ ""i""''?' *° ""'«'•
^d perhaps with yet mo« fnriL »*^* "*«S<»«-
^£ King's waggoLr. ^Z^TZ^t^ZZ ^a
him«lf^„„g^it.^PP<"»"»ent he had withdrawn
the old mimrr^t^o^Zlr ""•"""'r'™''-"
were walking at some ^t^Z^l^'^""^- ^he two
of Camisards who wfth tt^'* 'T *« husy throng
of Billy Ma4auld t*wif;'Zr :' '"'^ '^'^"^
■ng the horaes in the wal^„7 • "^ ''°"' ''""'ess-
The vUlage had emptied itself „^„ ^ho plain.
^a
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ei
« um„oved countenance, his cle.rcC eye, of
pey dartmg every way, and seemu^ to take inTer^
thing. Aa he looked at Flower-o' th. fw L ^'
something bright and youtXl Vst^X^TtTe'
too-early gravity of his countenance. ^^
wh^ewitllfr^f recognition and acknowledgment
^^r ft °^ P^"""" ^^«^* «»«h other, through all
d^^ise this young man had discerned that Pier^ the
Waggoner was other than he seemed Thrtwo
me People called CamimnU " '
aco^^ur"* """ '""'"'^ '*""' """ ^™" " •'"'«
" Ask them," he said, with a wave of his hand to tl,»
have^but^ one leader, and the name of him^t^
He bowed a little mockingly as he spoke.
62
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
H^„„tsf .3r:„e°' "-'-^^.--i -,
best gonemh of F™nor.K "?.'"": '«'°"' "'""" »'«'
hath given' ^*"'h„'' vTc'J^'" V^ ""ll "" "»"'-• Ho
And what more would vou hnv« ?»»„«• i »«^
smiling ; " you have th^ n J f ^'"^ Maurice,
abilities of rank." advantages without the dis-
" You had I think, something to ask me ? " «o;^
Cavalier, as if unwilling *^ ^- /T * ^*'"
you acquainted with n.y rank .l^d i^Jn^" "^^
FLOWER-O'-THE-COUN.
J
63
know that I am fuUy em|>oworecl to treat by the AUics
>^ur conGdenoe. no more than poor Piorro tho
Waggoner of Brabant_a sympathiser indoTwith
ca";iTthr i"'"" ' r-'"^ -'y - msttment t^
carry out tho designs of greater men."
courteously , I Boe your point. You have to carrv
back our answers to the Du^e. and it may ^ (^tS
march prosperously) return again to thL^il'nS
tops. I givo you my word that your wish shall hn
r-pected. It will not cost you much loss of Jutry
lor we are poor folk here on the Gausses and coukl
17 mir^r °^ "^" ^r'^-^-n-cJenumTd^^
but little better accommodation than that which
Pierre Dubois the waggoner, shall share with us "
Nevertheless, you will guard my secret." reoeatod
Maurice anxiously; "and especially (I h3 mv
reasons for asking it) from the Genevan mTnister
presently sojourning with you. the Pastor We^w^d'
There was an unmistakable air of relief on the face
of the young leader of the Camisard.s as he gave the
promise required of him. ^
" You will not take it ill, then." he said. " if after
this occasion I treat you somewhat distan ly and if
oTmeT?*^ "^^ "' '''" '"' '"^ ^^'^'^^ ' «^- ^ -y
" I thank you." said Maurice Raith ; " I have been
W '??« ^^««" ""^- '^- P«-onal cimmanZf m^
I^rd Duke. and. heaven knows, they are plainly
enough expressed." ^ ptamiy
The two young men laughed and parted. Cavalier
calLng a ter Maurice that aU kis equipment wouS be
64
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Whereupon Pierre of Roche-i-Bayard anrf W
saluted and fell in at the tail of H. ^- i V"^
waggon The .voung Camina^^' lleMo^k^:^
hira for his companion of the past niffht T^ .
■
{BMWt, mftT'TiT
1 1
I
i
CHAPTER VIII.
Mr Dauortxr YVt t:.
The viUage of La Cavalerie li.s u.' -ut u^or i' .
plain face of the great Cauwe >A L. v-V v^ L .t
tun« upward- like that of a deaa ..J:.: L ^^
malToratd^^J^f'^^^^^^^ ^^^ -^
«-* 1 J * "Ogee ot rock surround -iv .< . omM ut«»
n.t^ defence, which for many yeir, hZb^
««duoa. y .trengthened by the clm^Z. ^''
we KnighU Templam, ,nd part of thrwaUg we™
A« Maurice Raith approached the pUoe for the
firrt time he «w a wonderful aight. Hundred. .,1
men. women, and children we«, engLd to t^i„i
»P, even a» the LraeUtee had done^^old time hf
b^warlc, of their Zion. The men had the" %uL
and aworda cIo«, at hand aa they worked Z,^
a^awng by their .idea. Thua. for miny ^ T^
the high Cevenne, held againat the King'^ ^ ' *""
thnn^iT !;: ^ '*^° fetched water in paila, or aa
though they played . g.,„o, ^^ y,J^ ^^
GO
I'
r ■
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
on handcarts. AU w«ro h,..„ ■. ^i
under the direction Jl -^ ". *"" ««»' "<>*
rtiie. a lituTerted Z'*"^? ""°'"- "*»-
»tood and intn^a ch^X of L^'b'm"'-"' "^
c,at^'-~-;-rT:tj;isvx
Yet for aU that, he understood that these r.™;. ..j
were men buildine bv faith^.,- . , ^'»"'««fds
Zion. and establishing iof^'t?^ ^f""^ «•">•"
of God and of ril. ° """° ""^ *•»« t<"nplo
extended a 'syl^of'^rred LT"" 't ""»«"
most odious and -onZ^^^tr^,^^^ "T"
cover of which fh** T-iiio i . , * "*°®» under
of tbeir enemts *'"" *""* '""« '*'"'««» "'<= "'tacks
laid'oTl^rtrte^f^r? T '"'«'"«'• '-
ajde o, ,Ho Dult^f^al^roT^r fo:^^^ '"^^
-mtary powerin'^^tX""' «"<«<'" of the fi„t
Ra^thXht°r:ther? ' T"* """'> M""!™
ordering and* »tren:Ltn''orhe'^te MlTc'"''
for other puS thin .1*. ^ P"^"**^ *" y""*
wl,ioh to /rosLut 1 vocS' At T T'"" '"°« ^
thought, and the hU w fain ^iTt^ *^'^'«
a certain rejoicing totoT; tL C ^^^ Zrit''
8.rl who of all others had po,ver to morhim ^ ""
. ;|
i
i-
c
d
J
1
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I
07
For Flower^*.the-Corn na »,«n
therefore leave her ZL^ "^^T' "^ ^<>»Jd
Then it was certL ^h«f l^^"^^ "" *^« «^«ning.
breathe the high aT of th« r """"^^ ^^^^^^ °"' ^«
tart grip in it Wen tW ^^^^^^'/^th the clean
near to thank her for h- °^'""^^ ^" ^^^'Jd be
' »^« ^o"W find out Xther nr J°u*- ^^'^ovor.
him in his di8gu"Je ' ^' °° '^^ ***^ recognised
I Yes, that would do T»» *k
! J a young lover (or wtit fa „„* "eantime-for evon
murt discover Ze wav rf^„ I"™ ^ '"' « l""")
ho would take up hfaTSrlr ?«."'* «">« P*™-
to obtain a general k,o«5^L" '",^'"' "''' endeavour
by which a few iCanuS\ 'AV^''^'" of defence
and hfa MarshabT^" ,0, t> 2 *'"' "^'"^ "' *"™''"^
, Maurice Baith had ^"ely ^?'Lr"- .
I closely-cropped space whTh • (?^' "P"" ">e wide
/ he was haUed from af« bvT. .•«^''- >»'»«
Billy MarshaU. The eor^« TT""" henchman.
I standing by one of theX^hl, '^"r™""' *"«
packed bond'o of clothl^" H "'"" * »"'<•%-
A dozen men m^b™ .Zj J. ^"""^ ""f"™ him
a huge thorn stick ta hrha^d'"^:;' '^"- «« ™
pa»es to defend hi"p<;,iur^' "^ ""» ""^ng valiaut
! "Maister," he cri«H oo '
j of Maurice, " thae buik^t.^" "i: '"' """■«''» «Sht
honour's breoks alane-no'^jH x-t "''" '"' ^™'
t'U I am tired that they ire a't ? "^ *""*" ">«»
' nakedness, and Bet has »i'™ 1 ^ .u " *" '=°™'' ^'"'^
Hand aff there-4les. ye wanr' "' *" ""' '""
""*°" ye want your croon crackit
■y-iMSe^^^v'
es
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
}.:* I
bLTo-^r.""''-""'™ "»' '^^ «"» »» "»
A mail with the blood triokliag down from a broken
he«d came running to Mauric, holding a cloth TSI
• "^x"??^ ''''°'' "' '"""•" •» «*<• in rapid and
unperfect French " wiU not give up your clottea to
b^ bruehed I had the order, to attend to you^
outfit from Jean CavaUer himwlf. I dare not fa JS^
genera un e« I can inform him that I have XyeS
for me-the head of an old soldier of Hi. Majeet,',
Guard, and a good ProteeUnt of forty year.' repute.'
Malice laughed a Uttle, but imtantly ch«kin«
tT ^l ' w """"»■'"«''» o' h" «.lf-cho«„ .t^
a. Rerre the Waggoner, he apologised humbly, haaten!
uig to patch up the wound, and attempti^ at the
Mme time to pacify the beUigerent BiUy *^ ^ " *"*
But thi. wa. «)mewhat eaaier uid than done
For the deep, of BiUy Marshall were rou«d by whai
of hT'""?^. '"• "?«»"'«»-"" and .hamele* ^unSer
mn^ ""ZV^,;"^ '"'•"*'»• He felt Lt so
much good and warlike gear was being deUberately
Uirown away on a pack of pwlm-siMing knave.
And he refused to be at amitrwith the lo^ P^
testant and ex-soldier of the King.
'• Haud oot o- my road," he cried, waving hi.
l^'. > '''»«-'ff\'P'«y-fi"it. w'ooden-jl^
atomy ! Wi yae skite o' my rung I'se ding ye into
guid, gosh-I'm nane c«rin'. sae be that ye are ta^en
«| o- my sicht Leave my maister's ouL 1™ ?
teU ye. or I wiU Uk' the law o' ye-faith I wiU ;i'
thi. verra rung I" j a wiu. wi
So with Bet on one side, and Maurice Kaith on
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 60
tho other the wrathful Bmy was finally removed
to the stables, protesting aM%he way that hTwa^
more than a match for all the " cheatL ^nchi^^
m^oreation and that so long as he rZalZtZe
^Id to^r'^' °u °***"' "^oreigneerin' puggy'
wo«ld tooch so much as a shoe-latchet or a sWrt-
button belonging to so noble a master. ^
Billv W iZ !* Z^ '"*''*' ^^^"^ ^"^P^*'* *hat Master
miy had been lookmg upon the redness of the wine
which remained in the lower part of my Lord MaT
borough's false-bottomed casks
The taU and somewhat dignified man who aff^r f k«
rescue of Maurice's uniform%ad drawn upon ^Ll^
stbfeTor'^" V '°°*^"^^ "^ ^«"- them'rrhe
advice '*""' ^'^"'' "«'^^"' ^ '^ ^ offer «ome
MauLr"^" nl^"^^"" ^.°" '^ "^^^ y^"™^^^ off'" «aid
ertam, at best. He is not acquainted with the Ian-
^Zo ™^ u *°"* "' ^^'°«y' " ™ this stabi!
are also my own horses. Who will see to them ? I
cannot accept that favour from your lordship/"
astolhr ^"^/^ 'h^y * " -aid Maun^, much
Stables of the Templarie of which the general had
said !Il" y"" "'Khness do me the honour to enter ? "
roLtitrT.'K^'?" •"' *"* '""^ •"• •'^'J- " I «"» f'e
Je^n cL«i k" T; *"" ^ '"^ "" commands of
70
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
liJt^ ^°"I!f '"''" ^J^^cended certain steps of stone a
sidef stables gave upon a little steep ravine or clef t
their neck, upward and whisked about the '3^
ri^aLr" "'^'' '-<•-"«- <" *" wvs:
obtainod „„„y of thir'lrj: ra'^'^u':;:^
simply by the speed with whieh they were abk t^
btiU higher, rows of iron head-pieces wmked « *K«
S f "PP*' *"'*• *" ">e widest and best
staUs were placed in order the nine horses of Pie^
the Waggoner, while opposite, in a kind o° ,,3
sIC'SV^' and garnished with good X"
straw. BUly the gipsy and his wife Bet had made
l,.rw TP""""- ^""^ P'-'We of doth^ Xch
was carefully stowed away in the corner behind Billv
Maunce recognised the bundle as the one wWch con'
Wml^H T';'^* •'°"°™' "'"'=•' "o had tak n Th
him at the last moment, with some vague idea Zt
be apprehended.as a spy. It had. however, been
-y^^ -
a
ii
d
k
e
g
r
t
9
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 71
Tnl'^K'p*^^ same hiding-place as the fiold-pioco
sent to the Camwards by the States-General of Holland
BO that the chances were smaU indeed that it would
have done him much good if he had faUen into the
hands of M. the Marshal de Montrevel
Maurice saw to it first of aU that Billy and his wife
were made comfortable, according to their simple and
easy standard It was the custom at that time in all
the rnns of the South of France that the waggoners
should lodge m the immediate vicinity of theirlforscr
Z r^A^"^ ^r/° *^" '^ *^°"« ^ith them. Bu
at the Auberge of the Camisard village of La Cavalerie.
the stables were on an unusuaUy bountiful scale.
of L T' ^'**°^°« ^ it did at the mtersection
of four highways, had been before the outbreak of the
wars of rehgion a notable house of caU for just such
?«fi^«H^ii^r^.*^ ^^°n«r. Past ito doors had
S A u "'^ u™"" °^ ««^*"^*' S*- George, and
the chilly wmeless north.
th! ^ A ^'''^'^^l^^'on ever thought of ascending to
the second floor, where dwelt, in state semi-baroiSd
S:.Te°tr^'/°^/" '*"'^^- And it was. though
^ahtv h-T , "?*'/ P'-^^^ t»»at Bome hint of his
STviiLn^ ahready leaked out. that he received this
invitation from his host of the Bon Chretien
In time Billy MarshaU was induced to lay himself
dowB on the straw. They left him using tlfe bun Uo
of Maurice's regimentals as a pillow, and even in sleep
denouncing fire and slaughter against any one who
should attempt to despoU him of it
f^^ 7T u^\^'^}^'^' ®^* composed herself stolidly
Xl^^ ^f husband through the hours of the day
tiU It should be h« lordly pleaeui^ to wake. She hei^
78
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
t
• ?i
hi
self had tMted-nothtog .face the night before Yet
whir BmvTo^W •£'" <" P-P-"* 'ood forheI«
wnion jjuiy would be wuble to .han.. So gince it
waa h,s ple.,„„ to fdl .deep in the d^uZ .h*
to Z^ P^««. perfectly aaaured that her lord, awaking
to find hiniielf m a .trait betwixt the deep «« of a
certainly inflict corporal punishment upon her for
that, which It had been a, far from her power top"vent
culi'ne ^nd^".- "' ?' "•" ^ *- •bS A 3m.l
culine and legitimate conception thia of wifely dutv-
Z'unb'LttH"""'' '«*■ •"" '"^°'' ""^ endu™ f^h
^d unbreathed upon unto the eve of the Judgment
iJon Chretien. Maunoe mounted the atairs, which a«-
cended oircula, ,y from thedarkeatcomerof h" atabC
To tho« una (uainted with the pUn of auch Bo"wn
housca It might haye been remarkable how quSy the
wotted out. At he first turn of the ataircase the
ammoniacalstabl. .meU was suddenly left totod At
the second, the«, „ f™nt of the aaiendingpTt w«
a fringed mat lying on the little landi^.'^rt Z
third Maurice found himself in a wide h*aU. TighJ^
tZilth T- ''"\''" """"Ok upon aninn;rTu^
yard in which wa. a Judas-tree in fuU leaf, with seate
of WKker and rustic branches set out. Her; and tibere
» t^ shade Stood small round tables, X'tly
u K •« " ""dencmg a degree of refinement to
which Maurice had been a stranger, evT"!^ h^
left those mns upon the post roads „f England which
were juat y held to be the wonder of the^rld
But notwithstanding, and considering that he was in
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 73
one of the moflt remote corners of France and had
just mounted up from a stable, what wonder is it
that Maurice stopped suddenly aghast when, at the
opening of a door a girl stood before him. one hand
still restmg on the handle, her dark and graceful
head turned with some surprise in the direction of
Martm Foy and the guest he was bringing with
The light had subdued itself to a certain placable
green lustre through the dense foliage of the Judas-
tree, from which most of the blossoms had long
vanished It touched the girl's cheek with a graceful
paUor. She wore a dress of some rough-surfaced
stuff, exceUently made, which fitted every curve
of her hthe young figure. Motionless as she was
there was yet about her a suggestion of something
excessively active, vigorous, feline-not, be it under-
stood the slow lazy grace of the cat. but rather the
fehnity of the ta.l-switching leopard, or of the ounce
lying outstretched upon a branch ready to spring
upon its prey. ^ *^ **
She wore a single pomegranate fiower. rod as blood
among the heaped and copious masses of her hair It
gave to her dark beauty a certain Spanish suggestion,
and indeed she needed no other ornament
Bon nl. Jf^^'f""' n^.^''^' " "^'^ **^« »^"d^°«l of
Uon Chretien for all introduction
na^ !r^n** not move at aU. Only her red lips
parted ahghtly. and she threw into her great black
eyes something for a moment personal to Maurice
Kaith— something also that he never forgot
Th.8 ,8 that Monsieur Pierre, of whom you have
hoard.' said Martin Foy; "he for whom I hav.
^t"M^T-T .^ ^^^*'«J^/he everlasting honou;
or this huUiH); oy Jean Cavalier himself, during his
74
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
1'^
:■' f
•ojourn among a.. He ha« brought lu both arm. and
hoZr." ' * •***■ "' '^"«*"<"' todo him .U
cuhi«T4. ?*^^ ^'"^<'*- '''•° '""«" diffi.
Um M toe Lo^^^ ^r*" «° •'»"' introducing
mm aa the accredited amba«iador of the aUie.. •'I
* JT^^^"? ^'""" °' Roohe-i-Bvard and Hoc
Ln *T' P*"""-* poor Flemiah carter only
tdc'r:"* * ^°" "'""'»* °'"~' «'<' ""' "o-Ti:;
But even u he .poke he wa. conaciou. that the
^ « eye. were upoi, him. A amUe .lowly fomS
L^»>T° K?' "f • """'' °f themaelve. were grSf
knowl^lgeable, though al.o more than a Uttle SoS.'
I*t me we your hand.," .he Mid, .uddenlv
Maur.ce Raith, .track with quick fea; that le would
?r,.^ ? '""""^ " prewrving his incomito «
n^r t 1, ""t ®''* «™'' "^ " «»»ewhat
^ d^M. T- """"■' •*« »"' °f thoae with
great dark pupila, were a little diort-siehted To
m^Z^ "*> "^ *■?' «"' "'«"'' »P*»^on had ^
Z X.^ T^ preparation connected with hi.
art lien with her other hand .he turned the you^
man. finger, over, letting the tip. rest a momeS?
on the «.ft pahn of her hand, noV care«LTy but
mo™ „ f .he had been making an e.perime2 ^' '
Then, quite auddcnly, she lifted her eye. to hi.
a»d gave him (a. it were) full-point-bUnk Z^'
^ !:^ ■>"» broken bit. of the blue of heaven f«^
wandered and lo^ hk. the eye. of FlowerV-iTcST
-i
FLOWER-0»-THE-CORN. 75
Rather groat storm-dark, ultra-passionate thoy seemed,
tit «1 °^ T! ""^^^ ^°' «^«' -^i"^ ^n tears
that are never shed-angry tears mostly, yet capalle
rare. Such were the eyes into which, aU without
warning, Maurice found himself looking at the head
of that winding staircase, above the great limestone-
Bml M^'l"".,^ ^^°*^ *^^ ^^"^ were stamping and
with the faithful Bet watching at his head.
Ah, Master Pierre-Master Pierre, the roulier
the carrier/' triUed the girl, half laughingly haH
BcornfuUy, "good Master Waggoner-I am gUd to
make your acquaintance, oxceUent Pierre of Hoo
and-where else did you steble your honourable
norses m your own country ? "
" -Aiid I aJso am honoured." said Maurice, speaking
roughly; "It is a pleasure to me to be her^ ^f
wme IS better and the girls are prettier than they
are m my part of the country. What more can a
ThTJ i ^^. **^''* '"'"^^ me-upon my word
1 had forgot go bring me a can of the best, lass. Wine
Beak fnendship they say-or because you are so pretty
perhaps you would prefer another way ? "
He approached the girl with one arm outstretched
his whiplash caught up in the other, in the traditional
attitude of joUy waggoners when they encounter the
prettiest serving-maid of an inn. But Yvette Foy
did not move an inch, nor did the half-scomful ex-
pression of her eyes change at all. Some time ago her
t u ^*f ,^«*PP«"-«d down one of the many plsages
which led from the landing where Maurice Raith had
met his match.
,, " I wai see that ycur room is prepared," he had
7«
'!
•• I!
FLOWEB-O'-THE-CORN.
^^"J^ wiU ri.ow you th. w.y wh.n you „.
m two young people were thu« aU alone.
Yet in .pite of this direct uuult Yvett. F„„
.tood with her huid rtiU on thrutoh of tt. /^
through which rte h«l come .* U,o .f „?' ."r.'
upon the long turnpilce .Uur ^ "' '•*'
^Shyhook he, head. .. it w«,, mo„ ^ „^, ^„
"Ah, no," she said, "that might take in JV.,«^
the pastor's daughter of Geneva. b^n"t^S
Foy. And yet you do it not that ill eood M^^.
Waggoner, who have only a oounle of b i.?^
«»n fij^rs where the sjin tt tt^Tl^T
And these pretty, dainty hand, were nZr in a^v
man's service, I wot. Who sends a S^L fl.U^
to the seas, gets back neither fish nor iSt m^,\I
for good service either by sea or land » '
tralto tSft t "^°'"^- ■ ^ ^^ •''<• ""'' "" ker con-
sue said, I, myself, poor Vyette w^^^ *k *
?isiitSer°' £--^"^ -er:
ing'^hit rhi:''b^ai '::^x:^i^\^ j^ r;
of her small shapely head. hi^rtSe Zt h. ^ifj
»««-. of her darkling hair. S^e Itffi'."^
waggoner's coat, called a *o«;^„<fe. and tLH
''m^TT^jt
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
77
about her ihoulden. buttoning it with hasty nervous
nngers.
^en she threw forward her right foot, and brought
It down with a slight but unmistakable sUmp upon
lu u'Z' ^""1^? *^® "^^^'P ** "™'« !«»«*»» from hor,
the butt defiantly set upon the ground with aU the
auv of a devil of a fellow.
"Faith of a dog." she cried. " if you be not the
prettiest girl I have seen in a quintaine of Sundays—
strike my liver and lights if I do not think so ! There I
And there ! And there ! » she cried, kissing loudly
on the back of her own hand. " Let that serve for a
begimimg and now "-she flung down a broad Spanish
doUar with the piUars of Hercules very evident upon
It- there is what will give us the wherewithal to
drmk to our better acquaintance! Take it up!
Take it up ! " ^
She dropped the cloak on the floor, gave her head a
light careless shake so that the hat tumbled off of its
own accord, and stood bowing before him, a quiet
smile upon her lips and her hand upon her heart, after
the manner of one who takes as a thing of course the
applause of a crowded theatre.
" You see," she said, while Maurice stood before
her ama^, that is the way the thing ought to be
done ! Your performance was but milk-and-water to
mine-and not a great deal of the milk evfin.
Master Pierre of Roche-i-Bayard and Hoo ! "
The young man remained mazed and abashed. He
was silent, chiefly because he did not know how much
this gu-l might know nor what might be her meaning
m thus laying bare his poor artifices and concealments
bhe bowed again more mockingly than ever.
bhaU I have the honour to lead your honour to
your honour's chamber ? " she saki.
3rei!:^*^l>!^.ii
»■ :.^J^:
MICROCOTY RBOUITlON TIST CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
1.0
I.I
no ^^^
1^
U* |3j2
[f |3j6
l£
u
KUU
1^
il.8
A APPLIED IN/HGE
K 1653 EosI Main Street
^S Rochester. Nex York 14609 USA
(716) ♦82 - 0300 - Phone
(716) 288 -5989 -Fox
78
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
He bowed to the girl with the gravest dicnitv TTn^
that he was resolved to treat her as one B„f ' t K
finesse, though by no means thrown away was "Jh'
rejected by Mistress Yvette ^' "^^^"^^^
wa^er. I. on the other hand, am a little village
of : p ^:f^ Mi:?e:rktiot,rCir^
complacently in his turn. <l"ickly, bowmg
The girl laughed, heartily this time an^ n.f
contemptuously as before. ' "^ ''°* '°
" Ah, that is better." she said! " o«^ • xu ^
yo. have confessed. M t%^ft he::^"^!':^!
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 79
not betray you. You shaU be Pierre the Waggoner
to aU the world an you wiU. But to me "
" ^^ y^^ • " he questioned, seeing that she
paused. °
"Anything you please," she said, with strange
straight eyes and a fixed smile.
There fell a sUence between them which endured
longer than Maurice Raith felt to be altogether desir-
able. Yvette Foy appeared to wait for something to
be said on his side. But since he did not speak, she
reverted suddenly to her former scoffing manner
^^ " My father will be waiting for us," she said.
Permit me to conduct his honour the ambassador to
his apartments ! "
I
I
CHAPTER IX.
To Love and to Hate.
•Ita auberge of the Bon Chretien in the villaw
bt^e?rT '" *' *^'™' °' «>« Cevennel held
rfJn! /I Camisards, had on a time been the Zt
denceof the ancient Prior of the Order of the ^4
Templar, he indeed who built the walk a^flrst
held possesion of the town. The house waa s"d
at the angle of the little Grande Plaee and towered
above the other domiciles of the vicinity, even tW
mg a towered and crenellated crown h^her thaVThe
waUs themselves-which not even the ohureh <M
but crouched low and squat as if protectin7^1f bv
M ^r^ rr"^"^"' fr<"» *e cannon-bl of the
Marshal de Montrevel.
As usual the innkeeper was the richest man in the
httle commune, though not for the usual r^n
Martm Foy had not originaUy belonged to La^a^
lene, but, bemg of the Camisard opinion, he htd trans-
ported himself and his famUy from the town of Su
some yeai^ before. It was whispered that his wtfe
now dead, had not been equally zealous with him^U
the mL tvett" "* '%t .'™^ ™°"«'' "" »<'-t^"^
the httle Yvetto with her prejudices in favour of
Catholicism. But as to that none knew cei-tainly
The young kdy had, when she chose, both a pretfv
and a close-shut mouth of her own. ^
FLOAVER-O'-THE-CORN.
81
and to the English eye somewhat bare. But the
flo>ver-wreathed balcony, with its outlook upon wl He
oad and grey parapeted wall, made up for all e ^
it^uttTnrtr^ '"r" *'""" ^^"^ -'" ^^ -™
hands putting the finishing touches to the arrange-
"You will find your sheets aired," he said "and
there is a bell upon the table which you vvTbe .ood
• But," said Maurice, " this will not do. I am but
a poor waggoner of Flanders, and I have no rigl" „"
desire to occupy the best room in the house ■ "
i"r, said Martin Toy, bowing gravely " nermit
me-for this cause left I the beft^ay,^ bu^
wit „n the walls of Millau ! For this cause Vuntedl
not'ive tr. f ' "'?" "'" ^''"'*- A-"! ^-"
wh„^ru ' T"" '" "y P""-- ''™«« to the man
om th sir V*^" t f""^' '"°"«'" «'« -non
irom the States-General of Holland to these Poor
Folk in sore travaU on the mountain tops»"
kimf ^f^^" y- 'P*' "><"•" "«™« instinctively a
kind of channt into his voice, which Maurice had
prophet or high preacher. He could distinguish the
"en of Jean r^'r' v^ '''" '"""" *e%olished
paused at tt 1 ™ "I ■"""'""■ '^'' 8'>'. -'"o had
paused at the door of the apartment, stood with her
hands behind her back and an inscrutable express on
upon her face. Maurice could not teU wSe ^
was contempt or merely weariness. At all events t
partaker n these things. She stood listening to her
father With » kind of pride «d defiant revolt, expressed
6
82
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
features. ''^ ^^"^ expression of her
The chamber was wide tlm K«^ u •
custom is in these soutC' ,:!rte„i s- t^lKitt
»ml went rapidly t„w„rX the door ^"^ ''"""*■
It IS tlio liour of prayer," he said ■ " P„,i t ■
itie-1 had forcotten Will , ' ™ forgive
l.car the ner^^aeher f " J Te^r'"''''"^ '"'• ""^
Wiv J M„ , J^ "'^"'"^ .'f"™ Geneva expound Tiio
" ay ? No, you are wearied and would renose W„II
on a future occasion he will refresh yjrheart with
such expositions of the true inward/ess of Scriptoe
as have never been yet heard upon the Cevennes ?
onve you to my daughter. PeLit her to find J
the whcrew.ti,r.l to sustain the body, while I "X
wI>ore to seek for the better sustenanc; of the soS <'^'
\ vette Foy followed her father with her eyes a, he
went out through the door. She did Tt smile
£o,esom^:?shet^,-^::l-iI^
there will soon be over nn -„*i- ^i . wwnn
1, t . , ■ "'^' father, the animals will
have shut themselves up in their cage "
Maurice foUowed her out on the balcony In snite
of her bitter speech, there was something intenTl
attractive about this girl. She seemed created f-
allurement. She walked like some Ahobh orThoHbah
scarlet-hpped, lithe-limbed, certain of her fttract'™
power, a woman against whom the prophets of Cd
Might have fulminated as against^he idotat^ o
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. g,,
'laughter of Hcrodius, as flushed with trinmnl, .1
went out fro™ ,I„„ei„g before the i^i^ uTZ\t
wondrous to behold, this innkeeper'., da ^iLr f
t^ httle C«mi.ard village high on the h eln
(auascs. Give her but silk for seme red I^^T ,
ho^e eobbled shoes, and there had 1^ be:' a" td'':
The micony upon which Maurice and Yvette F„v
aTrt^.rre':;^: ijr -'r- ?^'-
overlooked the strcet.^Tett iS th t^trt^
corner where they were most remote from obfervati™
and pomtms the young man to a seat, leaned S
elbows neghKcntly on the iron railin,. her oh n n„
clasped hands. She watched hiu, intenth " ho Z
down at her bidding. ■* "" "'''
The question witich troul,led Maurice was this
Where gat tins girl so much refinement, so mue of
the a,r of a Court, so much of what can o;iy be earnt
.n the socety of men and women of the wo4l e T ?
certainly in a little village, set do :; ' 'ir tt'
^'s^;tri:^is-7'^rx^"£;
rminoit^f.^---:;;;.-^^^^^^
Yvette Foy have that in thcr^hS^re^^^^^
£f t ?f •oS.4X:;;r^^^^^^^^^^
have you come so far for so little J " "roKen.
unZ^."'' ^ "^^ "°* '^•"^ '^'"" y°» '"»„." he said.
But aU the same he did not look at her. And Yvette
!i
84
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Foy the innkeeper's daughter, laughed a low reso-
nant laugh like the gurgling of watof underground
nnk. It cannot be hid. For I am not as one of
the fod.sh women I am no ostrich with her head
"1 a bag. I see the thing that I see ! And that
winch has brought you here is not. as they think
to brmg these people a few guns, a little ^powder
ad the greetjngs of their dear friends and noWe
allios-who, unless it suited them, would not stretch out
jvere dymg of hunger and torture. This is not hid
from a man like you-no, nor yet, pray do me the
honour to believe, from a woman liki me."^ Oh I have
no patience with such folly I A gun or t^o and
a httle powder-a few papers and gew-gaws ! A
decoration, mayhap, for our friend Cavalier, and
that next week Marlborough and the Prince Eugene
Lm,i« «nTTi°"\r°" '^'' "^S" >'°"^^^' ^"d King
Louis and all the Marshals of France sleeping in
their deep graves ! I wonder, sir, that you can lend
yourself for a moment to such deceit ! No, and you
would not but that you come here-for what ? I im
tell you for what_to follow that pale pink-and
pastor. Bah! I know you men. I could break
her across my knee. She has no heart ; she is an
icicle, a frozen rush from the water edge. She knows
nei^ier what it is to love nor what it is to hate - ''
as nLht'^'bher""'."'-. ^'l 'y'' ^^^^ S^°-" ^I-^k
as night--blacker, mdeed. than blackest midnight
Ihe great pupils seemed to overflow the iris circles'
so that there was no white left at all. She breathed
so heavily that her bosom iieaved, not tumultuously
■t
r
FLOWER-O'-THK-CORN. gj
but slinvly and roguUrly, yet with „ l„l,„„nn" culcn™
which affected the yo.mg man deeply °
And I know both," she a.ided, suddenly • her
reachmg hke an echo in a great cathclrnl ' ^ "■ '"'
She rose up sud<Ienly and fronted Maurice who had
hitherto stood entirely silent. He had neV ,e
anyone ,n tl.e least like this girl before, and for "Z
nmmen he knew not what to answer. At fip.t as
was natural, he had thought that she was no more
mn a hght-headod maid, willing to he made n^rrv
w,th by any well-looking man who should co„,e her
Saken '^ ^ '"' '"' ''°" ^^""^ ""^ ''«'' l'-"
"Yes, I know both-to love and to hate," she rc-
peated,and as she spoke she slowly approached Maurieo
where he stood. All about the terrace the creep rs
were red and purple. The pair were almost „h^ l"
hidden behmd them, and it is not likely that Yve e
Foy would have cared greatly in any ease ot
viously some fierce excitement had taken hold upon
the gri. Her hands worked convulsively, almost
h^'Urrg b^^r ^"^ -"" ^-^ -'- -^ '^" "r
vo ce I have not spoken to a man-at least
What'a^'^hes?"' P'^-^--. ^"^ «ve montol;
wnat are these yammerers to me? God cursed
Zr.T^ \ T' *'*' "'""'' »°' •>« contented"
hymns and chapters repeated parrot-like, or the
grun mg over of so many prayers a-day Was r
to blame for that? Did I weigh myself in scales
or construct my own body and soul ? Therefore
He W.I1 be merciful. For I love my father a^dT
have none other to cleave to-none of the sam; staple
86
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
'II
l( II
^^M itdl
Hi
IHltt
J
W^
r
W^^Um
otaaness. The wh.te bones of desolation rattle '
Do you not hear them, too? Yo«-you'" "he
«e«ed h,m with quick vivid hands whoso cLn, left
nervous impressions upon his wrists, "you wZcome
iou Know these are not mv pnimla hm
no companions for me. The horse in tie t u"
are better company. They do noT'raTe. Thr^do"
not prophesy. They do not deafen my ears with
te.ts m,squoted. misunderstood, and misappM "'""
after aU-thir-"""""'' ''°^'^- "^ " -' Po-ible
um" Her^fl "T- '°"r ** ''8'""'"8 "^ds of this
g.rl. Her flashmg torrent of words, like some of
before r" ^""""^ '° "P'"^-""'^' '""-d -^
She would not allow him to continue.
1 know-I know," she eried, almost fiereelv
you would say that these men and-their women
aro better than I ! Granted! You are riX l7
fimtcly better, higher, purer. But the B^ thZ
can God made me as I am. I did not make myself
I did not so arrange the keyboard of my soS that
t I 2 : r" ."'^^ """""S "■'* d-Lds upon
mai/r^ .,^'™ ''""' '"'" yo" China-of.Dre.sden
I am tr i^'"'- ""•• '''^" Sood in all things. oSy
me to Pari T'. "°'r ""'*'"^''- My falher sen-^
me to Paris to be educated-finished. (Here she
aughed and spread her hands abroad.) That was
when he was rich. The school was a kind of pT
testant convent without the dresses and w thout
the masses ; by so much the duller therefore^ But
there was another maid in that prison-hZe-!^'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 87
tU^M ^K^rlf ^.^ «'^«'«u«e- Her father is now in
the Marshal de Montrevel's army. And so long a.
she remained she and I found a way to evade most
of the restrictions of the place."
.^>he paused to let memory run over the leaves of tlie
P'^ v.
Su Ti.""'? '°"" '"PPy y^""^ I «"' the great
world. I heard men speak-naen who were men-men
to tW™" "' * *'"' °' "' ' ""^^ ^'"'^-^ "'ta-
And with a great sweep of disdain she enclosed
with her arm the cu^cle of little high-roofed houses
aatoonst.tuted the fortified village of La CavJorie
&. m.ght Zenobia the queen have looked in the days
of her captivity upon the villas of Tibur and the
white flying leaps of the Anio.
She looked wondrously lovely to Maurice, this eirl
-Tivid. pitiful, of an astonishing and most magnetic
beauty, flamboyant in aU the bravery of yruth
and sex, evident as a poppy in a cornfield-no Bto
no simple flower this-but with that of dangerous
in her eyes which is so infinitely attractive fo an
adventurous young man like Maurice Raith
to mdt 7„ ')t '°°''°'*' ^'''"^"'ing seemed suddenly
tohTmd^\Tu* "'»''■' ''«»rt. It appeared
to him that he had been sent on a special mission
from the great world to comfort this forlon: ' r -
educated, aUowed to taste the pleasures of life, and then
torn from them to be plunged into a solitude Yes
he^ Maurice Raith, had obviously been raised up S
that purpose. Also her eyes were certainly wonderful
-that ohve skm, at once clear and mat, without
pohsh or surface or flush of colour, save oX the
Ups of cardinal red laid like leaves of autumnal
«arlet upon the ivory of her face Above, her herpTd
«3
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
mi™io„, carry 'thJiro":"„"^"'T''' '"> ""^ ' So„u
them. -^ """ ""'" particular zeal along ,vith
Rho was stainlinir faoinrr l.;,v, . j
wcro IraccH of recent t™™.'^ """^ """■ There
Uiv/ne,. ,„„,„ par o, ht ' V r^*!!- ;'*"" ''""^ <"
hor the r<,t, and achieve aUe»J^ ""'" '"' ""' ""
"Pon by the glamour of th^i ^ f """* '*''"''• ''^''•''
«" movingly iftor.couM,h.? "^"^ ''^'"' '""'"I
He made one s?e„' Zird^h °' v """""" "e"""' ''■
reddened her check Thf ''ke triumph momcntarilv
brimmed over T'tel^ '"°''', ™""«'°'' °' hor eys
dtengaged, and ran ZlvdT '[ • ^u"""*^ "'""• »"'
right arm wa, about hefr^'^'"^'' -"'""'''
left hand. ..e kne,v n„. f .''*'' * ''«■•'='''<'' in his
it- But he was 4"°' 'r'^'ir''''^ '■»<'''''''''"'''
drop. Two great cTcsm ?:">'•'}'" ^'o^'y trickli,,.,
near. They^omXeir/ ■?'' ''""'"°"^- *<^re ver^
««ivea so dark itelcr' ''*■'•" "°^' """'«'' '» "'^^
to grow dizzy in a m?t T ™7 "T' "^ '^'^'^
carnation lips were nearer ftilf ^ 'r*- '^'>"
of them seemed to swalW IpVet "*'"'"'' "'""
rose t: s"^;"t^^7f ma ""n''™' ''*"*"« "-•
let the hancUcefcWerd^L "'"™"''»» ^°i«e. Maurice
Foy, left unsupported atLe?^ T^ ''»'"'• y™""
had it not been for tie ,W, 'f r"'jr'''''"™f''"<n.
clasped with both hanr ^^° ''f'^^y ^''''^'' ^'^
pale with disappointment far . ^f ^"'"' "*<-'»
arrow had fallen a8id7eve„K,^^°'"' °"8"- The
in the white "" ""^^ " =tood quiverin..
^« the balcony Maurice Raith looted down. It
FLOWEH-O'-TKE-CORX.
80
child, Its coming o mvstcrv iu fni^.v,™ ■
a ^Miof. "'^siery, its taking wing scarce
First in (ho procosHion cnmc the old minister thv
..ad heard .ead;;: th^rX/'^^.nr^H: tt'^ t"
the hundred and twentv-fir<»f P^^i^ i ""\"'^ "'
«s.u.d peace „„d p..:;';^ td « ^l^;"; C "earf
well-nigh to his lips, as he listened !♦. .'
I to the hills will lift mine cycs-
From whence cloth come mine aid ?
My safety cometh from the Lord
Who heaven and earth hath made.
Thy foot He'll not let slide, nor wiU
llo slumber that thee keeps
Behold, Ho that keeps Israel, '
Ho slumbers not nor sleeps.
mefodv"'Thf °^ "''""'"^ '° ">" "'' ""d '"U of the
t^n nw' . ""^."' '"'"* ^y "^"o^" "ndorneath him T e
ou trC'efin t"'" "'''"'-"""^'' «'^'' '""■««
the square oat of si hf "T' ""'''"' '"P''"^ »"°-
luare oat of sijjht. The mourners foUowed the
■ i
\ r
80
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
imaginations of the hiart of . r^ I u^«'' *^«
iooldng at YveTte Foy "'"' '"" '''"'°'" ""^
CHAPTER X.
A Woman's Wits.
soul Soul 18 like character, a product or in ti,.
words of the Westminster CaUifm it fe a wo k and
Ln^. « i ,f ^°''*''- ^'«' ■"<"« thin that, a
he:;: srJht ""■'"'''*• ^ ">« ■"- '-'-^^ - 1^*^
nt^t^- \ "'"'^"'^ *''<' foundations are laid.
ouUnl " "•""^—n'oody or cheerful, inlooking or
outlooking, morose or heartsome-the edi6ce fronting
one way or the other, towards the sun or from if
floor amid clangour and clamour, like that tall tower
which once on a time overspied the plains of ShiuT
How strong and sure it looks at twenty-one - C
nmssive and impregnable at thirty! Yet who can tluT
mark '^ Art r T'^t""" "^ " '^ """' -">- "del
ft"o shall'say 1 "■ '"" ""' °" *^ ^'"''' ^
l-'or one day the high tide wiU come, a sudden far-
ex cndmg sweep, a recurving of the hollow "
Ta^Zrir:^' '''''°°' '"^^ '"« -'"™'°« -"
Tlie soul of Maurice Raith was to be early tried
His fates we„ kmd. Even if it shcUd faU. there was
II JM
'Hi
Ill
I:
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
air/ ti^.'^.ctzi 'f "« "^«'" "■» 'o"""""-
the earthq„!ko war hart "T .*r' *^^^" «""
destruction *'' '""P' »" away to one
I'e ? Love, amoni. oth.r Vw ■' '"'''""'• "hould
tlmt which is good r^d*;"^''. ■' ?he strife between
has many ohofces „rhappt^''"lr ^^"^ ^ >»-
best batter in his feeding trough tT"^ °°^ "'"
for the best prospect nf . T' '^^ '""y «™"ee
himself and hfs prCnv ThrT"' *''^'^°'' '"^
philosophy of tlfe Strong' 'VVliT'- :'^'',
down once for all hv n,. i . "as been laid
very good it is A trea ttf''™'''^ ^"""^'S- ^"d
a man is never mtf ha ' I T"" ""'"' ^'^"'"'^d that
engaged in making Lo^ey'' '°''"°^"'' *'"''" *''™
as w^rthir "Sel'i: f ■"«'-''-'> ^'^^ -me men
man find it earlvt LIT' "f ^'"' '^"^ "'at a
-nothing to hfm "an^ tr^sf Bra''^ S.i..Uo.,^.
when the Past and th. T I Branmash nothing,
nothing, when A^eesfr^ f^^'p' f"^ *« ^"'^ "«
thing, so that a mTn ma;"!^^*^"'^ "« the same
panionship, drink from^th ""^ °"« ^'t Com-
possess the one thing X,J|' °"^ I^^'««'«hle Cup,
This is the high mys erTo T "i?^^ "*'''""«•
ing to which the promfa7i, n ^^'^ ''''°''=«' "''''ord-
soed after him. TWs i'tl e f *", '^'''"» ""d to his
of the Eden bittemes^ Int ™'*' " t^"' ™P
still shall the man dt hi^ d ' T*' °' ^^ ^row
and infinite bitten^ess shall t^ " "«• ^" ^'''-S
So it is written and so it L. r*""" ••""« '""^h
Divine makeweight flu'^rfn'rv ^"" *^'^ '« the
Counter-scale. Sweet sh'auUr'b^'tr^ "'" "'^
ever be the honourable
FLOVVEK-0'-THE-COR\. 93
Mating of Two-the making of Man and Woman One
fin:ktHThii;'ar -''•-'■'—-<• »"h;
Yvetto Foy watched Maurice leave the terrace
whore they had stood so close together bc„ea«, tl «
hossommg purple creepers with a smile on her face
aat was by no means affected. All was not lo!t
because the first coup had somewhat miscarried, s" e
had however, sufficient knowledge of men to make no
furtlier move that night.
ft is true tlmt the smile on her face became a bitter
one. And as she betook herself to her needlework an,
her bool<, the twin scarlet lips were compressed mo™
t.gh ly than usual, and there was a certain hard and
fixed look about the great dark eyes
all'-th""'"'*" ^''T ^ *'* ■"" ''^"' "bout him at
all -he murmured to herself, " and I do not now
I have other things to live for. But, of aU DeonT;
in the world .he shall not take him fro^ me - " ^'^''
„f .r"r-.^ *'''""-™™''f ""me the far-heard chaunt
of the chdd-mourners, the clear voice stiU leadin, it a
heavenly instrument such as angels might blow "upon
\ vette shrugged her shoulders disdainfully '
She does it for effect," she murmured; "the
days have been when I have done as much myself
ItlnT fhaf'- ";t '^'»^™'^-''-) ■- aye, and 'mly
agam, if that is the way the wind blows. If she
chaunts htanies I can sing psalms. She has made
a captive of Jean Cavaher, so they say, the new prophet
the e^-baker's boy of Geneva, who came amons
v™i:rZi/r!^-"*''^''-''^"^«'»^'''«='
It is impossible to express the fierce bitterness
it
]',
94
t: I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
with which the girl sDoke T),«,«
of madness in her eve th!*r.. u , T ^ ^^^^"^ ^^™°«t
« enough, tha "he 'word 3^^"'^ "'f' *"' ''
thou here and thus ! "for some ?. ^^ °''"'' " «''°''
company of the Jesuits alik7^ "^"'^ ""<' 'h"
onJas .Lle^KirtJ: Th ""'^ ""•'" ^-"^ »"
Foy let herself go She had a"" llT *'i'" ^™«''
own in this a, il all things She'' h Tf ''•^ °' ''=^
contempt for the Camisard°Ls,l t ° ^'''** »
her, in spite of the faet th»rr '"' '""-oinded
with their fame to lifr^ ^ u ^ °" ^""Pe ™g
them. Not evenVou^g '^an cltl" ? T'"''' "P°»
courtly, Po.ished,\ad%tl^ro';^t*7h' "'^^'
no ordinary country maid ^h;. ^ , ®^® ^^s
keener of ^La Cav[lerie 'id "if .' "i*''^ ■""-
^; xt she held herself so f^r alo^f T '""' '^'''''f
clay-her misfortune too """ <"""'»°°
party.' Te safd. "^t^Hl-'L n? 1 I^ P^-*'^
«.« with them. I will prlv wTth T" *"' ^ ^'-'d
them, endure long sermonTwKht! ' "^'"'' '^"''
not love them, t!lk Zh^^ i? m ' ^"* ^ ^A'
Wit. the». They s,:uV^%':^;:^^^^i.
i
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 95
little as my duty and mv fathpr'a K„.-
another /i^^rLX'^riX*"'';;' ?^' "y
that which I see i„ the glal Tonir „„ th'^ h' '""t *'
masks were dealt out by' the S';;:o;:rt^.;,t'"''''^"
And as she spoke she looked at a HffiJ^ "'
constituted ht ;^l^n^"hoVoTS:' T'lt'
had also a secret storehouse of ^booka i'Lh f "
away in an empty escritoire-books wU^hf/f^
sent her by Eugenie ]a Gracieuse heT fenH tf^h"
of the dictiona^^o? S-strant b't ^'"""^
ound on the she'lf of a '(itis M "fw tt ^l'"
standing upon its defences in the wildf o the <t ^
From these she had learned ^^^1 ^e^nnes.
and VenaiUes. Tho'gl ^ll^ t tfS 1?^'^
Ssir/rint's- te"! ^T.'* —^wTh
of the Bon aSen as ifThl: . "".T™^ """''J""
the Hotel de ^^^Z^ j^ff '"' "^^^ ""^ '^"'^ <"
Iin"sTFra''n''™ ^'".^"'^ *» And within the wide
ITuuZ^ * ■"*"• ""»■■« thoroughly -ut ofT„
t" thft he ""r ™™""*"8^ ''«"' Y '-'^ y Add
to this the girl's striking and fatal h^n„f u*
perfect knowledge of thf uses o whlT^h;t beaT
might be put, and an early resolvTin *„f ^ ^
for herself at aU costs nJ Tu ^^^ * ^'^^
you„»L:rJ^rj-ir^^^^^^^^^^^^
To do her juatioe. however, it ,„ arthTiture
9G
FtOVVKK-O'-THK-COUN.
of mnrw^v « "' t™ ■""■ "^y -- "- 'Piling
l.i« sudden dopartu 'r-indetd, ■:: C XTd", '"^
Lfeigr '""' w,.e, t.. „„;„,„; td" x^d' r;
" Well, better luck next fJmo " „u i. ,
a shrug of the shouM^f "Tou ca^ hardr"' "'*
to win cverv trinh r.f fu ? nardly expect
no »o.e :r «t MU tetv r«S ^C'- ^"'
coinfort." "-iier uirl— that 13 one
For 80 she named Flower-n' fl,,. ri„.
8'ie thought of her. "°"'^'^ " -"'^-Co™ as often as
"Shall wf* * ^^^ '""■*'''^' *""« '«"ned in Paris
ground . "oh'T^fi dot Ye"; !Z "T '''
l«fore-(soshe meditated) " but «' r T "T '*
[ -ard h^af: ''i t^o riT'^Ts'tT
U.m so be that he is worth the takin. ^"^ '*''«
tin?dt:^t\\thi,;^'"or '".'r* ""' °' *«
analysis of "ehanoet Her eye-'dM no:""" T''" ""'
work. She might ha™ reoTa dl"u"r XXt'h'
0^;riererSg fnt:"^:; -^ -" - t
nuare of the village, and 'round ^rnetl^reS
s
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
97
fortifications of the Knixrhts Ta^^i tx
even mirthful «pp;«,iaT^n^/^ ^"^ *""""" «»d
"He must wS W Xt u "'"'"""tanoes.
infection ! " she m^I^'^'' ""^^ f ' "^ay/rom to
ping her head again JZhef"!'''""; ''«',''" -^op-
the dark piquant wfrf her faTe ^ t, f^?""^ '*
mirror. "^ *°® *** **^6 "ttle groen
mulh"": 'matorit^iorL? ""^ "' ••"»• He is too
water 1 " °'' *" ""^ ''«'7 '<»« ^r mitt-and-
oe^L;t:xiai%f ^ hThT- ''^'"« •""-
to_a seat in his own houZ '' '"""^ * '^''t
" Well, Martin Fov " aiiri n. j t,
raising her head fro Jher work or ffw? t'.! ""•"""
to conceal the novel wS W „„ "« *'"' "■"»•''«
table before her ■ " „^,t ^ f'T "P°" *•>« writing-
baker's boy r 'Hat^ his"T V^^ "' ** *°°<^»«
CavaUer d^atejl^ the Tr hT^ .^'"""^ ^^^^
h^dhisbread^vet^^^rronf.^"- "-^
^Yv:rS."t''sa1dtV— -
bTharaf ^re;S\r « T^ ---
chiefs of his f^h7~n :S."'v'^P™P''«*» '"'•
reverently of men U™f j It ^°" '''"° "^ 'Peak
hard heart beTucC' On, fv* ^^" ^ ^O"
the Prophet decS^at f^^f- ^ "?™'"« ^«»a»
before ShUoh woSd ooL ""' '"""'^ ''°' •« '°>«
folk " """^ *«»"> to make glad his
" Pshaw ! " cried the irirl • " „.- _
•■negiri, can you not see, father
I
08
FLOWER-0»-THE-CORN.
'1*1:1
..,1
ti
1
sLLT r"*^^°« '°°^ ' I »°» »»d and angry to
stand by and see you. my father, giving youM^rd
earned substance to such fanatics. Whafd^ CatW
metr :l :T ''f V ^ ^« ^'^-^ forTen^ght'd
meat to eat and wine to drink at your exnemw Vn^
to he ,n the shade and prate of Shiloh T" ^ ' ""*
^^^^'r.Tet^^^^^^ Her
the green tree, what^m yo^' doTtt d^V'Z "
have^poken concerning you to Jean Cavalier hTm^
The girl looked up for the first time, the blood flushing
pomegranate-red under her duskv sWn w t?^
teeth a mere line between herTncSwLL W !
eye. bright and dry wi^h anger. ^ ' ^'' ^^^^
" ^°" take too much on you, Martin Foy » she said
for the future do not mention me or mv afhi^ i« 7„
of your canting oromea. I have not"^"Td„*°^J
them, mark you-not with La Fltehe nor With R„i^
J^..spiteofhi3hawt'r^:^aiiKX
.tood a. if he had tidings to dXer ^™"'' ""*
sa^y^^ ^%tt^ *° "^ "«* -«> « ««ht in hia dull
saa eyes. The pensive resignation with which 1,»
'^-rrr^.te'^ss'^'rrr^'-—
f i^.-c. u , ' •'^^n Cavaher ! You do
this house an honour' Mv fla,i,,i,*^ • *°" ^o
the great^t of our .ioZl:tZa.T.Z^^.
FLOWER.O»-THE-CX)RN.
\i
09
little-yet m«C « ^' Z„ ^ K°""i ""* ■'°' ^^
his recognition of ihr„^f?,.p' '"*^"8 °'«'" <•».
him. But Jean CavaliA,. k«^ "^^^n oack, regarding
hi^^tl" TffitlTlnd^f *" ""^ ^™« «•»"'
new of WrTace th. '" "* J° """"""^ ">e boyish-
cheek, «,rtteZhr^«rrH "'"' '°^ ''""* "P°° "^
With ihe wt'-^^thirzrr °"-''.^"''-
over Europe as a vpWo„ "?,.**'^ady possessed all
great maXl^: ^aJ^mr^;;^;^^^^^^^ TT'
compeUed the Court of VersanLT' u ? '^?'' ^^^
methods of dealing with Z r^K . '^ *° *^^^ ^*«
Cevennes. ^ *^® '®**^^ peasants of the
In person Jean Cavalier was not fall n *i.
1
t
i f
f
100
IXOWEB-O'-THE-CORN.
estobUsh Israel, that the Folk of the wkv .h™l S**
..ofht;' "" *•"' "'" '^'"'^•"o' <" Martin Poy ^ked
•'.eyoungVnZofetr^" "^'"''""^ "^"'^ "P""
luck eye.voUe/r:;tvo«eT ' " *"" ""• «'^'
When the Lord hw wArt , J^"* *° hastc-n or delay.
Imre His arm " "^ '" ^" P«°P'« "" *'" m«ke
^^l^e girl made a quick little gesture of infinite oon-
sho'^w'-'tre'trTniTt^^ '■""'. *■"> '"«<>»"
comfortable saW I couW ^\ ^ f^'P"'"''- ^"^ »
at random—-^ ' '«''«'a"™. twenty texts taken
-oriTtj'^J':^'lJ°y-:'^'>-ot profane the
by Him ! " ''* """^ »f *«■" that speak
'he people', MellTttr eTj^ ^T r^
shepherds who f.».,==j *i, \ '"a™ »' them—
moiitak^" "^ *■" """"P '» 8" a«t™y "Pon the
V That is possible, mademoiselle," said Jean Caralier.
FLOWER-0'-THE.CORN.
101
with the moet perfect courtesy : " but I fhini, v
will consider the deeds which GnJ^T u ^ ^°"
to do by me since H« K u. ^^^ ^" P'^^s^^'l
admit th'^t the SpTrit of tlTf^^T ^''^''' ^°» -'»
spoken in vah^r » °^ ^'^^ ^'^ *»*^h not altogether
vr^^z t::.^'v^:i,^r''''^' -d the
"and what of that ? I. • '""'• •'"teriv,
aught to the" mtt' JtLr^Tlr? " '""^
K.ng ho les. the King for a -"^fU': Lo^" .!""
-u^ ectsfu thell' b'^e ?„'« "we Tii'tle"""'^'^ "'•'
An hour or two ago," ahi ,iM •• i '' '
of those ' loyal aubjeft, ' SUt . '"' ' ""'"P*"-'^
viUage. Wa, it, AanotTfirsa SThon*''"
of hiB majesty's birthday ? " '""»°"'"
_^^Jcan Cavalier smiled, almost the sweet smile of a
he„pi:idrr x^-^r^^ - - 1
kindly. "Marfan P«„ waiis, he said,
^jr- iuart.n J<oy, wo must be carpfnl u^t
whom we talk our Kccrcts • " ^^"^ ^^^"^^
uptjjrhe™:^d'°hrrr-7prr::™f-^^^
ana the. Who t^^^^r&JZ^
102
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I K
"ppealed to . H^Z^' f^ *'"»•''' »• have
Wore Oew! ^Tth^, • ""■ " " "'"'• '»«■«»
of the Bon ChrTttei™ """^ *^' '*"" °' «■« ini
•^^'^. 'f"?*^ ''*' '»<" » hot «»er
hi. prati:,, "r^^^TiT^r^t^'.^,::}^
day and another day alter thiT S„ .1 ? " "■"
man, and thouah he i. .f^r,„ • ..?* ''°° " • young
break hi. will fnd hi^;':!^' Lh^Tf;""**"' ' ^
He .haU crawl like a v^™ ^ .u ' """^ together.
or aU be done." She Xdinl^""'' '"'°" ""
.mae that the handbreSrf^^ ™T''>..«''<' 'he
reflected wa« not whoUv nl^.^ i Venetian glass
have « magic older .^7 .Ple»»«nt to see. "I ,]«,
H. can cThi. gLo^, T?^' "!«» "e dream, of.
mud-stained fro,? the ,^1%^""' P**^""
listening aswmblv I hL. k ^' u- """ «»«y 'he
the poZr of ttUe^wo^"tht^-,?r ''-''"•*
that pa»e. out fr^m « mrn1~0toe^ o'pe«onality
because he wills it, I ha« sLn ft !^h^ f* "^
just because the power JL^, » J '"°''- ^ut
weak. All the more ThatT K ^Tu"""' ^' » '«"
wiU. he shall nor^able to ^"f *^°'"'"*' *° ''"
think and plot and ws^ll ^^°"''r *'°'" ^ *"<
me. The olher-Z Pn i- .. "* ^'^ "^ '•■«" obey
also on m;hand..*He 'i^?r ^^'""^ ''"« hi^:
that chit of cUts thTLu ,^ ° thrown away on
"It ot chits, the whey-skinned daughter of iheir
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I;
t
f
103
tickle him from the wrist H« -k ii u j . ". * ^"'
dandled j^ i.i- » "*;, "*^- ^« «naU be daintied and
aandled to his heart's content. But Jean Cavalier •
vour hrd'^'^^.K"' theProphet-I will teach ylu to .^^
your hand on the arm of Yvette Fnt, v t •,. .
with the .t™„g h.„d lYZllZuiZl L *"""
power that fa given to me, I wiU^u^h^!^^ f° *^
to ce.«. I will rf.„t hi. ;>»i t^r^vfa bri"m
alarm-beU,. ,ar-heard ac™«, theTha.;.;^* """^ °'
the L^^A ''"' "'!•. "^ -^o '■"« quite caught
tne twang . ,„ preaching without knowing it "
* • • . .
oovered and^^tT hU^ Z^rjLn 'c" ' .""■
w^o n^ded eiighti, <„ u:::5^d^rnt^onre
n
104
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
J"
I ft
If
if I
f
^kedZe fav::fT:ua:^° ''"*^ ''""""y - « ke
«« m^ *«vour or quarters or victual
to my rooms. I St u?"^ ^T '""'"'* ^tb you
jail a^nge au'tlir i^/r tu,»L?r " d ^^
He can be trusted ? " ^ wm Keep the door.
Billy with a sword tab, handanl"^""" V^ "S""^*
And above them out „?th^v IT ^ ''""? '"
ancient Templar's Ho^! th.J^\«'' '"'"""y "' «>«
looked after ?hYm^ "" ^' ^^^ of Yvette Foy
blown so "in thaWh" ;. ^'""' ''"'"''« «"
not WthaTi::t,t;^„-7 °- """ "f"" *^
It will be at his E^eUeTor^nST? ,» ™°'''«™»« '
doubtless. They would nnf 2 Cavaher's quarters.
(«he laughed alo^r^^C/ """ *" '"'"'•' """• N"
dra™ byTe'po:* ^W^J '°^'^»■' C-^-- -^ if
awk cried ta at the dLr <^"he°;f Ut" 'X """'"'■
4t;td"wShttrLtch^r-^ - --
CHAPTER XI.
Th« Jtoas Trbe Lets Faix a Blossom
a prophet should Cavaher, alone, as
WeUwood, though making no ?roSon ^T K ""'
of Jean CavXer W„° eU '^' "^""^ "'^y »<> ««"
of the needs of% simple p^k tmt.f„r?"°"
I'berty, added to the rememCnrTf fhl / *'°'"
so long gone bv wh^n fc!. ,"* of the days, not
Seotland (a^d h; Wmllf \Tu'* °' *« ^outh of
partridge L°n the mo2- •'^\»'<'»t«l Uke the
of his forei™ tonlew^^ ,T' '™ *''" "l"""' fl*™-^
for the late^ohaXn of A^'^n"™' '° » ««»' 'o™
didhisg,ari„g''sTurd:'h.^a':Xm1rr t f°'
rather as a sign of h.s power an'd tSae J^nTom th^
r^^.
,.JE£fiE^.^aE
100
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
M
!;i:
!; If
concerns of the world, and repentant Camisards, cower-
Sk-1 r ..^ P'^P'*' ^^'•^ terror-stricken by the
infaUibility with which the wandering right orb sought
them out, and fixed in their hearts^s^ith peZa
apphcations the rebukings of the preacher. ^
doJiT!J '' FIower-o'-the-(Dom went her ways from
loved alfr' T ? '^ ^"*^' ^"* because she g^uMy
thIL .ff«-^ °^t! °^ "^"'y '^"^ ^°d ™ interested i^
htusehd^f T *^u^ *^"* «^^ ^^^ entered th^
Frth^ inn t '^^'''P^ ^°'"^"' ^ °»d soldier like
^oy the mn-keeper, and a former companion of his
n the r.gmient of grenadiers. Like FoHhis ma
had been touched with the strong sense of ob^eTc;
r«J:T • . ^' ^® ^^^ ^°°^« *o the village of La
^T^U ' r"?' ""^ ^^^ *^«'« espous^^r young
We o" tl f? ^'"'•" ^'^ Ji"Ie white-wra^^ed
wTk ! ^ °^'^ procession was their first chUd
born but a day or two before, and already gone from
their sight as if, after a trial, it had foun^dTe^;^^
world somedeal too rough ^
Frances Wellwood's pity for the forlorn little child-
man the act of carrymg the babe to the tomb which
L Thtn^-f V^' '" ""''- ^^^"*y ^ ^^--r so beauties
as when it shows itself in the pitifuhiess of lovinracte
and Yvettc Fov with nil h^^ i "^^ "^ *"^"ig acts,
miofot^ u \^' , * '^^^ cleverness, made a
mistake when she despised her innocent rival.
ihlr^ ^^'^J^'^^n bad never met till the morning after
Shut up as to prevent a daily market being held
m the square. It was tUere after the mornSe
service, among the whito^apped vendors of fowLa^
^i§t.
FLOWEE-O'-TH&CORN.
.1
I
J
107
vegetables, that Yretfa. Pn- *•!.,.
tered Frances Weilw^TZ ^ ,** ^* ""* «»«»""-
with her. ^ '"' *° '»««■ Md Held speech
either"" k" I t^^I^.^^™::^ ^'«'>' "-l' thither.
tte provenderingTthe Brrr^l""™' P"* '^^ '«"
and the kitche^J^^^ X^'^"™. '" ^er father
had deigned to acco^^y her fl^rtl '^"'°° *^
m Older, as she said T i^ I ^ ^ *° *"'y service,
from G^nevrLT r^n^ . ''''*,*'"" ^"^ "^'^ P^eaoher
own prophlto who^Zh^.'^y '" '"'"'">' thlm their
lii^e ^br^C-e^ rSofXr^'' "' «-'>'-
at rhl;t Sr^t Ta.: ^"'^ ""' ""--"
vicinity of FIowerK?trfn ."P^P^'t'on^the
asattentiveirr^Bhfre^'^K'''':^/*""'^ »'«' "^al
upon herself ^ """""■* *««in8 attention
oblong building. datTg fL^th?';^ ™ '*' " P'""
in the nuddle'if tie *si^r„th cet ""» t "'^•°°
no reserving of places F»„k <*n™ry- There wa^
own foldin?charo7m /""'"PP*'" •"""«»>* Ws
cold floTi, tfrn^ Z'Z "'' T*"' '"«" "Po- the
at attention dt^le™ ^1*^ Jfj iT"
»arrar;e::r.itS^«« j;-/^^^ t"^
Vveren'^Sng-^r ordV'"'-?-^- ^n
with her foldW-loI r""" '""'*''"'' towards her
ing at the sinZof one^';,?."'^^''-'™ '"" 'tand-
in general were funl T u f* '""« P"^» »W«1>
without a rX tlT n.^e t ""beginning to end
' °* "™"« 0' the bdss yoices of the
II
.1:
■^
I
W
108
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
men mingling with the eweet treble of the women in .
o'tVp ^f /»r« Yvette noticed where Flower-
V^!^T, ''f P'^"^ ^'''^"- «''>i<=h. as usual was
^mediately beneath her father. For the oM min
r^i toT; r"* rf 1*'°° °' ^" °™- '««--'%
«^td of h?r"n '' "'"'"' *■* ™ "■«' '">at wi
expected of him. On more than one occasion he
to c''ou::t°"his'"''H*^="' r.*^" "'»"<«»« »" °-n
TO collect his ideas, had gradually become »„
entoiiced by the noble thoughte which^he wor^ rf
^vi^ utL^nr* "^''l^ *' P"'?" '*'"" without
giving utterance to a smgle word.
Patrick WeUwood was standing in the nulmt wh^n
Yvette entered. He had been liuca^Tt Ge"er
havmg chosen that seminaiy in preference to ilyZ
or Gromngen because of its greater theologic bZ
dom. For as a young man Patrick Wellwood had i^t
belonged to the stricter sect of the keepers of the
Uw. Here he had learned iVench of tLrnotalle
voutf B /*T. u**^'* °»'' ^°ly be attaSt
part of his'tv T''\^' ''f '^' '"y f" 'he greater
speak to the Camisards of the Cevennes in their own
^e'^^r- ''^^.'V'"' ^'SO" '"«' PO-t with wS
Xm^" ^^^ P-»byterian vetera^ns of ArdmiCt
f.^""";?'" *^^:*^"'''' ^y™ "«" «==«! upon her
father She did not even observe that Jean cTvaUer
had placed himself aircctly at right angles to hc^
hik^^mi-
!
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 109
side by side with Roland and CftfinAf ,« *u ,
which had come to be rescued trtL M ^^^'^
this '^luJio^iiTi^rmZzzTr- ^f
the old man to the pulpit "St ^T T''""'^
and humble respecttS tiat (she thoulto l ^""'
him no little. ^ t;nought) became
It chanced that Yvette Pov amVpH .•« ^u 1. ,
ust in time to intercenfc fhl T *^^ ''^"^^^
the blood spring hotirrSpoXt^^^^^ '"^ *" "^'^^
cheek. *^ » 'J" responsive to the young soldier's
There was another who had observed f h« k 1
a dark-skinned youth in a wide bI,!rKi ^r^^^y-
near a pillar at the door T^him w^r/^^ ^'""^
with a mocking smile uponh^Zl'tZlVT''^
even observe her TT,« ol ^ "* ^® ^**^ »ot
upon the7ace o'Fr^LrWeU:!.'^'"'^^^' ^^-
like a flower which tTrto^^e «!' Th "'f^'
began to speak. ' *® ^®' ^a*J»er
" People of the mount," he said nr,^ +u •
noble voice immediately doZ^^'ted i/ ">"* °' ■•''
the hearts of aU the n,L I j " P'*™ »nd
have a Stia tenlht "^ /°<' ™"«° therein, "ye
Louis, but I teU ™u no Th! '" •*'" '"'*'"" "'
own gates-at thr^^Sls ?/ y^^d.^ J't" "°"
own f^ides. Repair the breS." 'ra™ ^ J""
wm. The work is good. Make h^.^ k, 1 , ^®
But iirst of aU be sL that he«lnotaT»'. '*T«-
-youasthe beating of you^Jal" W,^:^^;^';-
^V SOB
no
'p^.^ -^
lilli
iXOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
n.e„dous utterance t<^k h'^^e^^sW *";
where , he etood. But the next Itnt tS: p^Lw
had taken a lower intenaer *nn« v * ^ preacner
theeeatsof theolde^Xr^hets"' "^ '""'"*
:'"V7- Y« have tasted of the bittr cup " „^
and truly ye have drunk your wine mingW^^ifh TI'
vmegar upon a spray of hvsscn BiTTiT ?r^'
^;a"s;.f:h^?d^'^°'--^— -^^^^^
anf pri^Pca^:^; rXthrTTtt "« "
3 r z^frof^t^r^^ r^»"
child looking out of h;r r^^ot ;^™ "»; *«
cence of a W at ease spe VmTai »,1 Xr°"
rrdlf*rrroTti:tind ^th^'^""''^' r ^"^
Ven^ur. or the surge T. L^iSgt ^^altnl
About her head she had wound a fl,i« -i *
It
d
3-
d
a
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
«n 1. I'raia ot the scentless imm rt< llo
So she rose unceremoniously in the m^L .i
sermon, laid her stool .„..„.. .,, '"""•■ <•' *'»«
air and oarriag^of a , ufeTnl^'H""' "f '""> *'«'
the hot suddfn carLinrof^»tr T*'™'^ *'' "t"
great sigh of relfLThe U tL^^!fll T'^ »
breathed upon her face. *''* '°" ""o"
The true spirit of Yvette Fov return^ . i
soon as she had left behind h^ ST'^'".''""
heavmess of the little church filo^™. ^ '.ormng
of the spiritual sort, .h^u, ^'°°™» and fervours
indeed. shTXrcdtuoSt oT *''°'',' ■""• """•
factors in the gaietet^^Jpu" "ttT .uT
trn/aThrs iT'ufot'i^ f-CVm^
of another life S; bZ^f h *''«8"°I»»» '^ had had
a desire for th^ ph^/ ^^nt^ T '^'"'■""^
and sweerto her-Ihel * " ™'"*- ^* "^ "" 'air
the wind p^ssS .^ n"STn t^en^oT""
pomegranate bloTms^iashed s^IrlT ''""^""'' •"
quoise skv Theap «„j ?^i •. ^' "8*™*' a tur-
They ma^de h^l^e'^^^^i^'^l-rhtT/"'^"'''-
-n. - VureV^frr^i-rht-S^
112
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ascendent gossamer with it., Uffi^ • u ' ^^^^
A very wise man this Patrick Wellwood i P->, i,-
t.me and upbringing infinitely .r Yrt it ^Z K
doubted whether he would ha^e LaS o^he^^,^
^^rorge:ts'h :^frtrn'^e:irh''"^r
from the mountain oleft hi^ se^^the b^lfp"::^^"
God. On the other hand he did not talk to ^aS^h^
daughter, much of inward grace or of its outw^S
ook deeper than those sky-steeped eyes to W thl^
had T"" "K-r^' P""^' <>' ""touched i^L^''
had the^ ab.d.ng-place there. So though^Z
Srfr'*"'^ '°""' "' ArdmiUan's re^to^^who
b»r„ ^if '?!'"*'" "fa night, he disoourse^l "ne
them^ • "ttT ^ r°'T« *"« " «^*y tearte ^thfa
tnem, the resistance of the natural mn . f « f v, ,
If I preach over long at any time," he had iS'
when she was a little girl. " know that the worf is ^
KfN(i^
'^^UGt
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ,,3
for thee, beloved, but becaii«A «*-.-
Open thy Book and read th^ Ti^^\ it^U>he.
the anointing oU poured o?^ v^^ *S.^ ^°"' <"• »'
or what you wm^oJ^',. ""''*' '" », feet-
Bhine beeause in it W bein^ "'^""^ " *■•«• '""-
tissues of her body ohan»^^«^'"'''^- ^he very
enlargement and US SheV^ .t' ^"^^'-^
but when at last the .„ri5' ''^ *•"« '""ter,
made the world ntw Y™l"n ^ *"« "'-i''"'«
and impulses thronirh W wT -, '*'*"«« thrillings
to all that e^rZ „f h^ ^." "^ *«• *«>. ''^re khi
blossoming oE ''°"^«"™« 8^ne,y and pink
But she rejoiced in such thines n,.~I„
the necessary well h..„„ . ^ merely as a part of
aired m.X>ZC^^^°[^^^ '""-the warm-
her part as a creatSe wh^ wT ? ^'^"'' *" '"«'
andlyinglomtwarmihJ ***"'S *'«' <WnkinB
-ij^SceA:rh:t;M:?r''*'»'°-'™*-d
eac? XT tt'wSr :r '""'' r-* »- 'o '-
market-place, across Tuch the'S^ *'°'' °' *''« ««'«
stiU lay long and blue "'^ """"^ ^adows
Nol^a: ^his^etd tir "d """^ ^''^^ *° ■>« -"
lamb or two from thl cf,^ T'' f ^ C^™'«"e. a
"Irib. eggs in pfenty.NShlt f""^"'' '^^'^ "'«' '?"»
The women sat crLT^H fr'*" """^ vegetables.
baskete, or with ther^.^ Z ^•"' ""^'^ ''^ «>«•'
tneir small stores outspread regularly
114
FLOWER-0*.THE-CORN.
■i
X°bf .'if" vr""T' '«'k.,g«Uo, potetoe,, ranged
Dieated for the comparative freedom of the rouoh
fejK^ lambkin, which in reaUty waa to T JX
From the little Cami^mi Temple over the way came
T^ 'X"'^.T.'*7^'« reverence, n;
were aJl of the Bond," and would gladly have been
pre»„t, but what would you f The p^t at ho^e
mu.t be boUed, and who but they in thei^ tim«, c3d
Z ^^^''""ZY '""''" " '"• Friday eve^
day of the week for such as they, poor folk-^ouM
rr "'^"^^^y P"^k ol. though they h;^^
by the errors of Rome ! o j « uus
At last the worshippers were coming out. Morning
song was over, the service had been of more than
usual solemnity, because the Sacrament of the Lo^'s
S^per was at hand. Moreover the Genevan pastor
had spoken at length, an 1 as one having authority
Martm Foy came last of aU. lingerL a S on
nota httle grey and weary after the effort of preaching
When however, he did issue forth of the li^e
church, Patrick Wellwood stiU held him by the hand
I'^Zi^ the decrees of God as applied to the scheme
genera of events and to the livesof men.a thesis whiTh
naturaUy took some time to develop and completT
The mmister was. of course, whoUy absorbed in
the great solemnities of life. For himself he was ve^
sure. Though as to every other man-whv to hia
own master let him stand or fall.
But Martin Foy. though a disciple both willing and
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
pour of the sunlight ^® ^*™ slantwise
•nd on the m«klt "om™ .ittf^Trt' °" «"• '"'««
in the white dust along the ZuL^''»'^'"« ^ens
of a sUenoe like that rf Eden .^ 7"^ " ** "idst
thing which waa to atflTe' 1 tratd'h"'"?'"""* '
I aU those with whom this h i.f „!! happmess of
more than the deoisSns of cabS ZTtlT '*""• '"
Ij of great kingdoms. """mets and the euooessions
" Of her own accord Yvette P«„ i.j
and was holding out her tZZ^^'^Zl^, 'tf™"
It was near the Kreat rt~>, f fi WeUwood.
and as these tJsf^\^". *\ »«» Chrttien.
.^unshine smUed 'ZZ'^^T.^.tl:^^-
She took Yvette-s hand and smiled also.
' I
i
Hi
11
I' »
CHAPTER Xir.
The Spy Hole on ...« Stairway.
flll^'"' '"'"^ °' y"" '" 8"«' ''»*>«» to our Door
added, " vorteisfstr ■ ^"."«:::f 'X'lr;- .r
;.n^r^51„:^r:.^o-^it.^„~;
*viiy nave we not seen you ere this «f riiii.^,. l
of the Bon Chrdtien ? " ""^ P''''' ^^"««
inJ'inrn*"'i~"^''*r'" «"^^ ^'^"^^^^ her face break-
ng into a slow smile, " in my country it is the custom
Flower-o^the-Corn looked slightly distreased.
I had not thought." she began, and then stopped
fimj^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
or
iU
id
>u
117
-"that w. I had not supposed you would wi«h to 8oo
" And why, pray ? "
.yrTyveT: For """'"•"' """"^ «""'' '■""' "'*
impossible to Flower-o'-the-Corn
so cref.' ' '"'''" "'^ ^*''' ^^^'-^'^' " *h-t you were
Yvette Foy laughed aloud in her turn.
You will not tell me who told you," she said •
It IS you who are clever, and I did not know it ! ' • '
simpiv • t1. tTn"' ""'" ^^*"^"^<^ Frances,
to cty and from camp to camp. I know only men '^
In her mner heart Yvette thought that to Tnow
men was not the leasf fn Ko ^» • j *
ments h„f IJ^aa 1 ® **®^'^®*^ ^^ accomplish-
Z^ti. t u^'^ "°^ '*y «°- She only drew her
arm through her companion's with a smUing happy
vol* ^'^ ^°°''' °'^°' *^^ ""^^^^^^ •' " «he cried ; " whv
you know as much as a baby ! "-" As tL Zi
you earned yesterday" she wa^l about to say but
checked herself. "Come with me, and we wUl en
men. For I too, have li^^ed among them and if
I have any cleverness it is to know^hem for what
they are-dull-minded. hateful deceivers, or all cock
a-hoop because they have just killed a sparrow with a
six-pounder carronade ! " l^^^row witii a
The two girls walked apart from n 5 crowd of the
market-place smiling and conversing. Sucla pi
for lovehness was never seen togethef-fair and dark!
lt£lF' ^i"^'"fe .■■--i*2f'*''-''^' ^^
wm
118
i
;i K
IXOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
cornflower and Daasinn a^
■»<»«J. But J, ?rZ»! Tf' ?"" ""^ ■"«* dia-
•nwards. th«ir am, Tl Ti "^f P""% """"gh
Paring and smiW ^«1 ''"\.°'^« " ™«<». wht
«y«» of many. 8™^ th.^«T 'S^™^''"* under the
Cavalerie th^e tt" wa^^L'''"^ «~fde Plaoe of La
<«, they n,ight have Zel ^e 7"*^ "J^' °"«>''
«"Ue8, whence the srcen L^^^i?"* **"•"« »' ^er-
standing shivery in thf^t"^?^''!? "'*'"«' «« »«n
JlRty „e,""^id YvX^lnt '"A?"-
, fcouuy, 1 have no mother
insti^ljty'dr^:^^^ quick sigh,
tnow-at times it^ hL T "^°^ *° ^^^' "/
member her ? » /"^^ ^°' » gW- Do you re-
i^.^^^^-^^^^^ ^fd my father
died-then it was he seTm« . t^' ^'^^ ^^e^* «te
out of his way ! » * ""^ ^ ^^^^ in Paris, to be
«pelflC "V'our'^^ -^^^^^^ "do not
you. as mine is » AndT; -. ^® '' *" *^at is left to
a good man." ^'^' **^^^' '"y father says he fe
^ J-tto laughed a httle laugh, ve^ ...p ^ ,^^
less;''^;* is'Tb'; Zf ""^'/'^ «-xJ -an. doubt-
-ell for you. my far/adT^t '^ ^^^^ ^* - -^
juto the world of men^l^^^^^ °"* eyerywhei;
lands and the f^c^TLlZt'^'rr''''^^^^
and great men--veiyeasvTnr' ?°^ ^'"^^^ «°ldiers
^oy of fathers ! " ^ ^^'^ ^°' ^^^ to prate to Yvetto
. "Nay, nay," gaid flower-o' fK. r.
■"t^^jftifr
:-i ^K^^^^^^^^^^H
^^H
;:4
.^^?
FLOWEIUO'-THE^iOEN. H9
n, r'l '"i ^^ " "o °"« anywhere, in highland
Z^J'^i TT^^ " ^»' '>«»« company iCud
prefer to that of my father ! "
"Then the more fool you, with such chances 1 "
murmured MiBtress Yvette under her wT But
."ioud -he „id. patting Flower-o'-the-CWs deheatflv
rouad..,; arm on which her hand was^rtl " Ah"
one d.y you wiU change-one day, my S Thtre
i. a st..p commg to you from oyer the L lie saik^
teua, and ita burden a love-love— love ' " ^
Yet they have been verv kinrf t^ «,<.
other." "<«-Wiey tire of it sooner than the
about the girl's nS "v^ '^ f '"""' **' "'y
on. With su^h : r„ yor a^d^^^r fa^ -e,!^!!!
;"^t;rCdrjruaT."-— -
Fl„„.r '7^*^ °" P*°P'«' "^^ you think ? " queried
Slv Hjr k"^"k "'"' *'"'"8'" of tl-o love of 0^
why' ?WiUrll 1 "*"' '^''"^' "■« '»"- "ot
" ^:''^^i-'^Mm" W^WT^
120
|ii
Hi
i
PU)WER.O'.THE^RN.
ow;X^:^-^: »^ Vvee^. SUM., ehangi^, a„
you are wise. Only do noThl , yf-'hat w. if
the particular 'he tfhat i, »n ^ '^i'^ '" "^'"g <»•
give you in tlie matter -" "*" '""<* ^ ^^^ *»
'nlt::tio'::^Helrer^!'%?;r ^"'-- «-8
" Who ia that ?" said SI ^u^"" °'"*««"-
For a certain martial s^'':^.™?;'"'™' ''"'""y-
through the blue blousei^. "serting itself even
hooded cape of PietTh, W^^T^^ ^-f".. and
Yvette patted her cheek agaif ' ^~''""-
Ah, dearest," she auM ™„ I
be in a hurry. You ca^o; T °*^'"«'y. " do not
to anchor up here loT^u ^^P"' your ship to come
M..ter Pie™ tl WaZnerXT't'"^- ""•* *« ^ut
barrels were ransack^Z^^" *^"»ders_he whose
hon^friends of ^^^Z^^Z^ ^ «-»
oann»'',^rid"FLts'""'"r "?/"*«•- -" '"e
Causses thnt night. He-h. i,"*' there— out on the
me for saving hfa Ufe . j .honlTfif T' "'" "»■*«>
^ Yvette looked down and It^'j" ^«""'° »«»»."
her toe on the grrnd Tht ,>.'' *^'"«''' ^'^
exactness she constac^' »^,l '"* ""^'hematical
first, so that preset rs^j,*^"*;,; •"■ *e base of the
in the dust. ^ '""'*^ ""'de a diamond lozenge
in 'a^rinr'""'' *"" ^°" '^°»"' -V said Yvette.
in Ltl^e^ ' " ""^ ^'^- -'h a kind of catch
to'h^^^ Z*^,j'^''2,r ""'^ '- " «'^'
P-ound; "remember T am nT^ ^u' "^'^ "P"" the
WeUwood ! • ■ *"" "'<'«*■ *an you. Mistress
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
7-
m
id
If
Joy aXd w'^Jhtl^T;!^^^^^^ "P- ^'-^te
face. ^'''''y ^y the wnst, looking info her
" You must tell me noV » al^o -j
am no child. I havf> hoT!) u **'^' earnestly; "I
H^, came once and^'^X^^ -- ^^^^^ ^ --
wJl return. WhythrnshouMT f''^''^'"*"™- He
.?e dark girl Lke," et ^i^.^^ ^^^ ^^ ? "
•It 18 not snfA f^ , •'^ y about.
certain arrangement *" ""^ «"" ">« had made
Now Frances nr.*^ u •
young man, ,av; Tat w';?e!r'''IjK"'*'^'^ '■" ""^
5he believed innocent tent^^f '*''"" °°<"">om
YvetteFoy. ' "™' «adily enough with
There was a nnVof^ „ *
ho-»e. bymeanaof atwdlT' '",.*<' ^^^P'"''
leading up into a circular tl " * ""'« ""e street
By this the girls pZeX^.I^d^^'t™''' «'-•
chamber, hearing beneath ,h?.u ^™"*'' °™
f»any horses' hoffs aTthev m / ' '"*"*™8 »'
■regular paving.st„„4'„ftTertabfe ""'"'^'^ '"'""'
. At one point there was TIm .
«mer wall, which gl™ i.^m^J'^.T"'!* '''™°8h the
Be ore this YvetteTt^p^"'!'^^' '"'° "•« »'«hlo.
tiptoe daintily. For tho^f„h ."*''*"e a moment on
hole had b«-narra "Uforfi^- T **"■ y*" 'he spy-
Suddenly she cE5 J^^'l''«''*°'»°'an>seyes
Something^adfaSe^^btvond:'^ "^''^'^ ''^"'"er.
* I«ok, loolj ! » 8h? wi.7 ^^^ «P««'ation.
o'-the<k.m. '"'^P*'^ eagerly to Flower.
With something that made her ashamed in her
1k<^r^-^m .'
'-yriw^,
' Wff.^'
122
Jl,!'
iN
IXOWEIUO»-THE-CORN.
1 11^:™^:? °"' ™«'«-~°li' plain J^m^'l^d
such jealous c^ out of the ,«k of the ^W~
triumrh" ^thl"* n ^"'^ ^"^ » '•"'P ^ ot «knt
With the quick eye of one who has Uved aU her lif.
among «,Idie«. Prances recognised that fte gamente
constituted a complete officer's umfonn of the iS
du Eoi. or lCu«'s guard of the French army I
■'Wt.''^\&
't.
r-
d
r-
h
t
f
)
CHAPTER XIII.
Certain Spokes d. Certain Wheels.
entertaining a trait u^wlrr^^; ? r " '^^^^
inteipoeed to save the yo^^n's W« ^\ ^^'^'
have done had he h^J. ^u- "^' ^ «^e would
most patria^ch^' ^e a^''' ' *''^*°'' '^^^ ^^ the
ance. ^® *°^ commonplace appear-
But that which disturbed Flower-o' fK«_n
the knowledge that her f«fj,^ ^^ P "**^®'^"* was
milkn'sregSent. aBrSshoffi^^ ^' ^^/P**^^ °' ^rd-
rating. should ahohetl^rT''''^^^'^^^^
under condition^^whicl The ^. ?i"''' ^^^d' and
would bring him to tt gaUow^^ °/ **"' '^^^^^
at the same time she had b^n tl! ^^T'^^-while
among the Camisari ^e ^^^'^^^^^^
I'rench spy, armed with tl^ Zt ^"T *^ ^ ^
with easily-procured stores a^/^''. ^""^ ^""^^^^d
had given an air of trutTo hTdS""^'^^' ^"^^ ^
cha^b^^wl^rwXltlr ."^^^ - ^-^te's
or highest storey of ttTmi' ' T^ "° '^' third
being spread out far belowlT^n °"'^' *^« ^^^e
" And why " ^id Z ^''f^^on of bee-hivl
" if this mant re^y a srS°«.^^"^ *° ^-tto.'
*"y a spy of the enemy, as you say]
^s^^^"^:
■mw "-w"
5kVL*"ll^'
124
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
V ^.f^^ ^'^?"*'^ ^^" '^^^^^^^ *he two young women
Yvette Fay looked straightly at her new frlnd Tke
one who m all her life has had nothing to conceal
Ihat were indeed easy," she said, calmly • « it
was my first thought. But then a French office'r is a
fmh r°Y ^ ^^" "^ "^''''^ *« «^« ^"^ ^«™ ^^^ from
hmb by a howlmg rabble, as he would be if anything
of what we know appeared. And. secondly, he and
his people are lodging in this house, so that I can have
them constantly under observation »
S^Tl^T'^l Cavalier-my father-the other Pro-
testant leaders," urged Frances Wellwood. "they are
constantly walking about and talking with this young
man They will betra^ their secrets to him "
Vv.ff ^ •fr^''** Cavalier, as you call him." said
b«tl t 'T^"^^ contempt, " the apprentice
baker can attend to his own affairs. I am not his
nursemaid. And as to your father-my dear have no
but' tm ri/ V ' ^^"r''^ "^" ^^«^- to\i:;^eaehTngs:
out wiU tell him nothing material-not if he were to
remam here a hundred years. Do not be afraid for
him. JuFt because he is the one true prophet among
the many false, God will send His a^ek to watch
over him. Did I not listen to him this\orning, and
his words were those of a very man of God "
Yvette lifted up her beautiful eyes as she spoke,
.w I^^^f/^^P^'i^- There came a kind of awe into
that thriUmg contralto, infinitely affecting to Flower-
o -the-Corn.
Nothing touched her so much as praise of her father
Lovers might tell her daHy for years of her own beauty!
Theu- praise was^ as the twittering of sparrows under
the eaves. But this strange girl, the daughter of
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
125
France, to pratae Pat„ok"o^ "" '*'" """""^ "^
with a'kLd 'of »;" ^?.1 tr'^. I ""- ' " she oned.
a girl with no one ti speak J'. ^1 '^ '""''^ >'«'*-
It was with. n^Tu ?''*P'"y'a«'er."
that Yvette''::?„rd1h:'S: "|.n„ine e^oeion
times command the ontward"i™»^ff«p°"'1 " *"
lay her danger to otherepr ""*'•""'" *''''
impowd upon bv -ui?!"' ^ f "™^ "« ■"<"« eosi'y
men and wome7„f odd It? '^'/ '*''«■"«''* "-a^
Com was anytWne but ?„M ix '^T ^'""^'-^'-th^-
I.ereyesatawodCAholt"^'"'"' 'P™"8 »»
ered. The sensitive Ii^*°bo": >■ " * """"-
a-tremble in a moment tf .h« ' T""" "«~ "l'
loved was slighter tol;^' """«""•' »'"'* -e «te
and r fapa^Iuro/saTS" J^ °"™ """^ -
thing about h^ a Me f ^' *5f " '^ ''""J" «"»«-
thing, grown oideVan'd m^:^' bi?w '™''" *'" »«"'
have Wed and .aen undrXed tt i "inT" '"'°
a distrust of men « ^„i !. , " 't« essence
a revolt againsHhe ^U l^ *" ''° '^''«»" them-
■ » the affaTof tte tZ '^ '""«'** *" ""«»-'--
shfc.Th;e'rr„r^^^^^^^^
In spite of all that wom^n m"ht d^ ""^ "V''''^'-
the upper hand in tte w»M ^f^ ^^ """" •""
But nature (sue ln.„Ti, j 7^ '®"^' outwardly,
other qu^tii and TaL f ■ '^*^. ""'' ^'^ "^^afn
great ilpoZce s1ncT7he b^:' "'"'' ^"^ ''^° <>'
and She was r..^^:^lC%'^Zl.tT'J:°^:
126
FLOWER-0».THE-CORN.
With thta initial difference between the girh it
X„r,r°^7 •?•' *« "PP*""' advanilr were
JJI on the «de of the daughter of Marti, Fo7^
ttat when rf>e ^.dertoolc the education of I^er j^i "
the very ..mphc.ty and directness of Frances made
^«^; zzz '^•^ "' "^ ""--«-^^
rn^Jf*".* '^"'*' y°" •"" ■»• do ' " 'aid Fiances
f.th« that there may be a traitor in the camp ™ ^
ton, " °;,°°' '^^ '"'"' »"-" "i"* Yvette, in a low
tone i who are we, yon and I J Two «S, who
thJ\^K **P'"""'* of treaties and embassS o^of
the h.ther and thither of poUtios. What Tave wi
we clar^r^TH' '"" "'-'r'*" "gimentals. wUchl
we charge the man with the possession of he wiU
doubtless say that ho obtained in order to further
his progress hither ! " ucr to lurtlior
the^^n"' '" """^ '«•""'«' P^'-P^'Wy «'
" But I understood you to say that yon wished
Flow^ ^ ^^ ""' ^ of the Camisari^!^!*^
Flower-o -the-Com, a little mystified by her c^
thT^ »PM .-'*''*»' gymnastics; -'ZcyJZy
1« f^^t °' ^ °™ "'Kht suffice to clear hL He
may then be mnocent after all ! "
dm^t'J^^ ""■" ■**** ^™*'«' ""i^ the most
™^" I L " j^"?" '" *■" ^e^rionced to
E I '""^ «U my life in the nSdst of the«
thmgs. You are a new-comer and very young 0^
day you shall know aU. In the i^aitCf what
m«. with the too superabundant changes of raS
FLOWER.O»-THE-CORN.
127
For the sake of your father's life if ««f
ir «» " -^ » to u^:-.VdX rh
At this Yvetto kissed her frinnJ „., ."s""-
girlish tendernesses. iC 2^ "r""?"* ™«"«
herself „d walked to Z ^^oTtjT"^'^
the entrance of a certain H.>t ? " ^'"™' »'
figure, the ..me s^^d t^t ta Tk "T* V''«""«'
passed out during sermon ttoe '* """"" " '^
Yvette Poy smiled bitterly to'herself.
mut^f-wXt'*!"^. ^"^ '™«8<'-"" "»
myself I have ruccJ^^Tn 7?"' ""• «•»»" t"
Biderable apoke 1";:^^ ^heeTStTr p""''?.' "»''■
of Roche-A-BayaM ind Hoo7» *™ ^^^
r^s^o^Xtrttas'^^rh "? '« *°^^"«
sweefcMf or,^ «^aaii was within her heart with the
For thoU" 'dtit onrt?th"th!"*°" '*"' ^'y-
slightest Irlish admLa^LlSni w"*°*^* •""
action, whT l^c^ of "T^ " "^'^ "^^ ''^''"'t
t^ri^g of lace*3 It tt° St'^ «"'"
thither of the ^c^ „fTV^ .^'**'' •'«'
»^ l^-a-do„n se^, "kL^^t-S^
iJ 'r.v
\5r''jr63A?;-
128
VLOWE: -0--THE-OORN.
ill
^^t.: F^° '"""^'- "^ P<««ion of «.. h«rt of
And this girl had walked through it .11 i;i.
« <l«am I A hand»me vounT^Hfj ■*• °''« '»
mander-in-chief liad conf^„^ "de-de-camp of a oom-
«nd she m<>.:^::H^^\::f-'"' » "■» «ye,.
a simple laughing vort„if™'u'"^ "f?"" »» with
enough if ah*e haVrjrt^ n^™Il^'';;:~, ««"'
overpa^ed Tv^e^ ofTSy7 ""' """"^ "«»
here,eatothi^Tauoh"^;pr„it:^»^er^ in
regl^en".^' ^^^-o'-^-C^nTprt^Ued on.
adii^S'Lt rJo'Jtt?^," r ■»»•» '"at he
do those thing. No d^dlT Y^'"' ^ *"• «»
should I intrude on hi« *h- i ° **" ""^ '»">er. Why
things quiror\l^'^»f-^^a^^deed o^
somehow— someJinw fK^ J'^uug mens follies. But
that at ^/^:;J'::t^^ZoT,l:''v
wards. I own it Of o^*!*"!*!^ °' "'"" «"«'-
again. Yes, I k„ow his ZL S*" """^ "« "im
about the camp of nLTL" * '™* "*" ^<"™
Lord Marlborough." ' "« '*"""»^ ^ my
Well, his name — what was if 2 » ^ ■• , ,
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
129
Captain Maurice Raith, of hi« Pr„«ii
mander-in-Chicf's staff » ^^^ceUency the Com-
" He was handsome ? "
Of a handsomeness- -ves '♦ m\a m^ , .
curling her lip with .„ eSoraZn 'r""°.:''''-^°™'
question in aU ite bearing? °' oonsidering the
H« name, Cnptain MaX R»ith K" f »« '
"y pretty Captain. If T d„ n^fK ij ' ^»P»»">-
the hoUow of my handLrJ^ .. \°''* y"" ""^ in
Waggoner - r7 if sTTf ^ "?*' K*"" "aster
desire is mine own leadv !r7l .m' """« ""at I
why." already, or I shall know the reason
The defences of thn wiii^
a state of completion lI?*' .*'" W«'«'=hmg
't„'ti:!j^ir«- ""'^ '"
in case™ "suddfnlS Tf" " T""""^ '»" "'"'
The point of attack »dth^ 7 '"""°* "^''^''"y-
upon. '"^ ""^ '^'der must be decided
As to the latter there could be ?itt?„ „., .•
not been iTst^S^t r^ifSlT w"""' ^
srbi:t«-:r3'' -orTorianf:^ "^
Castinet-thes?w^e 1^ """^ ' .^°'""'' ^atinat.
but no onp nf fk ^^ "™ '^'^ ^ue prophets
power" oTerin'^wKrt^' '"" ''^''"- '' '^«
natural. Furth7rn,„ • ?^^^ command easy and
the Lord wrt^r-m" H "''"T'''"'^^^''"^"*
but when he did thl *?• ^* P^Piic^icd but seldom
yet twice w^ 'it so Zt T"""- ,^<" "nee, no;
■t so, but always. Which repute
9
«y!)-yr -*-"":
130
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
naturaUy made him careful of his word., and a
judicious silence pawed equally for wisdom
mot' /l^r ^^"^ Waggoner, he watched every
movement of Flower-o'-the-Corn. He saw her coJZ
ol 'l/ , '/u"* *" ^^^ '°°™^«' *°d, wrapping hU
cloak about him, was at the door of the little temple
before her. But when they came past Frances waTwn
mg upon Patrick WeUwo<id's arm"^ and iXg u^in 'h^'
face, as he told her of the message which had b^n
given him for those "poor, iU-leamV Ul-advl^ but
earnest-seeking folk." «v«ca, out
wifl? S^ ^"^ not notice the young man in the shadow
with the cloak about his mouth and the eyes that
Tt'n ?th '•'i;'"" '"^ "^ ^^^'^-^ °^ othtr things
But neither his presence nor the direction of his eves
r^rei^r^r' ^^^^^ ^°^- -'" -^^ ^
Angry and baffled. Maurice continued to pace the
he had stramed his neck with craning it upwardTto
look rnto the windows of the Bon (Sen ^
Dark-browed Camisards. passing this way and that
upon then: occasions, glanced sidelong at him 3
remarked to each other in undertones tS!t thet^
of the aUies was overmuch given to spying t^Zh
IZL^ "^^ °'^^' ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ had best
nodded gravely and parted. ""mieB
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
131
Hot '5r:rrpr«:r-Lt.tr" ---
he stood grinding th« iL^ ! *°® '*«»'^ him as
Ah," murmured the volr« «,.*i, i
«>om in it. "FIowerV-tl>I°S.m L' "* *?,":'"" »'
P^tty „aid, a pretty nj^^^tj°\'-^^ h",^' A
pretty. But suoh flowera »» Z. « ' °°*'' '"'"omo
gentleman I -n^a^ZT ?^'°^ y""' "y ""ggoner
diet. Plain srLn nnii ." """'*'• »''•" ^e your
e^::; t« ort.f'Cr5>/' win^a'rjt-
'.he earth they oaVor, "'s^h «?ve« ""pf"" °"
"range it, ahaU be your portion , " "° ^^^^ *'"'
If
f-
My
LW., ,
CHAPTER XIV.
Thb Maisok Rocoe.
Frances Wellwood was hurrvinc hoin» t*
already late in the autumnal afCLn Her U"
oIm h T"e? '" ""« '^'^ <" t*" which iiy*^:
could brew for him-or, more likely, haying w^L in
vam. he «.ou^d be gohe out to com^Iete^"^,^
o good works," a, (somewhat ureverentlyj^e c^^
"^T^L'£T'°'^ -<> visitationsVo^-'r
Suddenly Pierre the Waggoner stood before her
e"tr;'^^wth :'^f ""','"'**^ '""" «'«' ^otZ
entry, witli a certain foreetfulnpss r.f Uic T
positU,n he held out his b.?iZ^ot^.ZZ^
f«^ly and freely as one of her o™ nati:: mi^httve
Jh ^ """7 ^'5*^ ^ """* y°" '" »''i°« my life " he
:^t a f^aiiit^tr z'-s^t'^Iir^
matters to occupy you. But nowTdo 1^'
vation of my Ufe mV not seem Lch^to b^ hS"
HS^J^^l
FLOWEK-O'-THE-CORN. 133
STwaLo Jr ! "' " """ ™° "^'^ ^'"'- *■>'■* <" F--
"b!.t fn^?^ y°"''\»»'<J Flower-o'-the-Com, coldly
m^C "" °"'' *" ""'"" """P ^-^ ^ -"<» »y
wr!plJ" It''?'"''' °* *'■•' ™'* °' F'«»«»' clothes
wrapped up by his servant so carefully in their covpr
Tk°' ■""«•' "'**"°«- ^o' it was for a „^° at
ir "'"'.'";"''' ""* «™" «5»e8s that the yourman
was overwhelmed with confusion. ^ ^
To which camp ? Your messenger ? " he aueried
faltenngand changing colour as he spoke. ^ '
•• Didi' not'u^d""*'^:.' """"«"'P°"''''"'''"> '■"'■"ion-
» m»„ r "'"'''^^''■"i yo» to offer me such help as
tornit nr ir?"* '-' -^'--^y "-"^ «*'-
"indeed, I said so, and I meant it ' " Maurio«
.^ntan^ra'ctr '^^^ "^ '-' - -- ^^
nof ir""""'"**"^™ withheld her, as if she had
nhl'l'/f 't*^"!""" Of you." she said, stiffly, and with a
chJl feelmg about her face, " but that wh cSl <S fo'
you, I would have done for your carter-lad And
-'T^pLz "If** T "'" '™' '•o 'o*:;':,'unifsi;
4, x: tth":art h^ 'nr^iir '""" i™"^
I shnnM v,„ »*«■ "er speech)— unless, perchance
Ltwixt ther''' *? ^? '^'"^ ««^« to transport
betwixt the towns of Roche-i-Bayard and Hoo ' »
Maunce stood cold-stricken f«,nf . , ' •
what to make of the girrworl VvL > . ^°T°«
or a iyufifls ? ni^ i *^ x , ^^'^^^ ^^^^ it information
he tfsTnLn ^ ^' ** ^?'*' '^" ^^ ^°<^ believe that
ne was a plam waggoner of Brabant.
profet'orrld"?' replied-for he had sufficient
protessional readiness not to be taken wholly at a
'■L^AmtSM'
m
134
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
be honoured toperfo™ .„ / ^ '^'"*^ *»* ' "^aU
Koche-i-Bayarf-and tTth^ t? '^*^'^" H"" "»<»
He liffxj k^ L . . " '"° world's end ! "
He would have Ll^ T" ^^ "' ^'«"« ^^i^-
not S'to part trto'ri!','*'''''' " ''°«' ' " I Oo
not the man you seem ,?,^^- ^ y»" <>' are you
HiTh^r^" re:t"f "rt&Tr-'' '-•
answer her but thJZ\^l^ *'* *° ''"^ "ords to
was right. ' flf wm'^oTS^".'""? ^^ ^'"' ««
he had no rieht t„ .T * ■* *^ •"* ^"ed- Yet
fidenoe(wUohwL^ '^" r" *" ^^ «»«™1'« oon-
Flower-o-the-Com waifcprl «,i„i
counted a score for^:St^^'^^« ^ "f 1 ""^
the least little sigh ° ®^® heaved
jaZi 3'^:ttr^-,;«7f ^°' ^j-^ °-
I^t me pass ' " oeueved it. Now I know !
with some of the imm^!! ? ^® "^^"^ «*°°e stairs
father evidtfo^C ft^Ct'u ^^^^^^^
was calling on her to rPf,L ] ^® ^^"^^ ^®' ^^^art
theedge o'ff her sL^ ^^h^ ^^^^^^^ *<> ^^^e
upon the other aslTrZter^^^^A ^^'^^'''''
«Py I One who would d«?^« ^^"^ ^°°^
death I » "'"* *^®^^«' "P my father to
l,^-i^--:^-:jf?:.
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. j 35
She meditated a long time, the thread of a remem-
brance running keen and vivid through her thoughts.
Where had she seen that uniform before ? Like a
bar of sunhght falling across the dark sea came the
answer On the waste sand dunes, wide, far-blowing
hoUow-hearted between Campthout and Lilloo. whefe
for three days the French army had been drawn out
as m review order, complete to the last shoe-buckle
while hour after hour within the tent of Marlborough,'
the great commander strove in vain to bring the beaten
ftte^k ^^^'^ ^^^"""'^ *^ *^" P*^^* °^^^
TheMaison Rouge I That was what she had seen-
theumform of the inn stable was that of an officer of the
French horse grenadiers, the famous "Red House" of
the King.
At the same moment there came a sudde: eso-
lution mto the breast of Maurice Raith. He ha. oeen
enough tossed hither and thither, enough flouted and
held at naught by this girl and that. He was sick
of It aU The memory bit like the gnawing gangrene
of an old wound, restlessly, sleeplessly at l^hearf
He would not longer submit. He would foUow
the girl and clear himself in her eyes. He turned at
the word and went up the stairs of the tower chamber
tnree at a time.
W^f* ^^ a'^A Z^'}^ °''^' ^°°«- The quick light
footsteps fled higher and higher. A hLvy d!or
clanged, almost m his face. He bit his lip, and in his
turn rapped loudly on the panels. Maurice Raith had
little enough idea what he would ask for when the
door opened He was only acutely conscious that no
longer would he. the sometime aide and confidential
messei^er of my Lord Marlborough, be made a clown
and a laughing-stock of by any maiden living
136
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
W'
ately. '" '•"'^ ""d greeted him affection-
tim'et'li^t "tlTl''''""' *"'' yoo-g »an had
in n-y «>M that ™?:™;r«'?'«''»»"ltme. Itran
rare waitings upoftr " 1 o/"«S:f t? ^°" ■«"
anxious for vour »nnl'. ..« * "grace that yon were
in Gflead. IfTou ha™ hf ^ k.*"' '™ *«" i» bahn
tl>e Cvennes ia^ a^ri'";?^* '^ *-« ?»<>' ^Ik of
it may chance th"t wTiSlI ^ armament of war,
to ea^-yea, bread th»7^^ ^"^ '" "'"" bread
Come th/ways in Id ' I ,r'" "°'*** »»» <>' •
And Maurice w^t in L "^fT^ '^"^ y"" ' "
within him that rWld :^ t^^' ^» ■-« '"ought
maid, much ah™ (« wfi^L; r,. ^"' '•»' wise
the door to his convene w^fh' .^, ^'*°^ ^""""t
do Patrick WeUwo JZJe ta,"fTe"--hioh, to
MatrK^i^p^ -" ^^-^4 rwS*^-::;
ii3^L?-atr\le?.*^-t„^- ^^art ^"^ '"^
hS^s'^rruhmitsr -"^rtreror oi
becaus, there CsolJ^' 1^?"^ "J^" that)_but
the young manTvofcTlnT.. " ''' ""'' boyish about
desi^d so soret t^ W, "'"* *'' '"^^ 'hat he
of with her ?Ither "'"'™"'' "'* "«"«« instead
" Be not deceived, sir " sm-ri *u« u
the best deeds posaib fe'to mant t^"""";;'""' "^
wm one atom of favour in tirne^? "'" '""'^' °*" '"'
«ight happy should I be " said »ho
soberly smiling in his host's U^X'^^ ^^
Pf
.mrr^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
137
"Ah, yes," said the old pastor shakin., hia uu
passed. There was a oC wUhout th^ T"™.'
feet, a hush, and then a raftle ' ^ P"***' »'
p.:^L\rhL"^^:e.%- ^lar-r/.^r
as the son of mine old age ! » w to me
Ra!?vr° S^^ ""f ^^''tifi^'ation took hold upon Maurice
» t™."* ''^**°*'' ''^" '"' 8<»d of themselves is generaUv
^ltfe^S,^^^^"'*^r"°"""y*''« »™P'« things
1.1! ,^ ™°'' "'• Whenoneewe set to watohiS
each other suspiciously, each act, howeversimSf
ficance"'^'^' '"•'™"^' '''"'«''* -'»> deadliit^^!
the ^ of rii *'T *" ' P*^"8 l* Wr assuSel
tne au- of a bribe. A twisted spiU of naoer h»lf
buried, with a taUor's invitation to ^ttlX h^"
orLvTe"a'' '"rr ™88«^«™ <" debt tUt
c^^r th, , «'" \ '"""" °' «"> bankruptcy
court, or the s,gn-manual of a lady asking for the
¥"'i
138
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
not altogether .^rio™£ H * '^^'^ y<»»« woman,
to the door of X tL^t I "*f^«»™ <>' her ae,
bedroom, her p.^! £^^1"?^'"''".'''^* •"'<> he;
on lip for the ^.^^'oetf^heUtr" """"«• "^^
other thinT He e^t!r!S K 1,°""'' ™» '»"'? "'*
o.-.stom,nSfmmig a Srf^™"^,' '°"^J*^ ''^ "«
of hi, natio:^ oThi, r^Lt Tu- ^^ ^'- ^^ "■"
not aU Scots in the^S' ^ ^i," '?" '^°"- ^^^
brothers «,d sistere ? '''* ^^ ConnWes aa
" This iH fKo « ^^^ ^ William at Steinkirk ?
in th^on^f. SKd^an''. "^'^I T r*"^"
Vet"; wTxr c r?K °'^^"^'
empty of hanr F» i^^ 'r "!" ,f from an,o„g „,
yea. even the gold of oS 1,7^ ^7 "" « ''<'-
with tiding, of^great j^ " *"' "^ '""' -^"y he filled
hel^o„r^'ranr*'^"l.''"«'" «""» "^^^ Cavalier
™ nand. There was aomething invincibly
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 139
to^Z.*^"* "" y°"^ m,,„_perh.i„ even more
But Flower-o'-the-Corn hersett thought otherwiM •'
.he entered e^Uy.as if by the merest accident^
1-.^' ?°" ""^ "<""« to see me ! " she cried with
n*5^«''^$«''"^^^ He had
t™r7h*rr He^w^x'.lrtrrn^rthtT
"Ah Dubois." said the young man. carelesslv
on the other side rtut^^;!™™. '* "^ "»""
ownXhf l^t^"*' ''^«»'^' "- -*- » »7
Rn?'^"" 5'*°°*^ momentarily across at the Soot
^.ffl „ °<?''' "•"^'o"' «■»* •'«'«» to some d^e
aroZy-=-,nru^^r£»
''Presently, then. pres«itly." he said, nodding
uo
FLOWER-O'-THE-COBN.
If
the %" flyi4rLX .nnitj'fhr "'»"•
fully we know » WK« k u* • *"*«"^**®a (now wromr-
"t .ulky. fingering S^tt ."A ^J' T"' '" ""^y
out of it. "*'«''" "'t and wuhuig himgelf weU
. little whUe L wiSta^t\?T'''''"' """"'*• " 1°
in tlie dim-lit paa^l aTf ,, ."T *" «"■ »■«» there,
of the Ianding'^''^5'^t^'^''-'"'«d. in the ob«=„re
OL euoh." (Ifo didCl \ "T^ '"'°"' 'he ways
why hi, Icnow^e^e g.'e^„ T ''^ ^•^- "« y«t
upon others.) Tevl^Lt t" "8*" °' '»iti''i«'n
the interval, of V^to r*/?™'' '^'*'"°« i»
.Uent and half .udib^ 't .T'" "' '''""«'• ""J'"
«nd go through eve^ tL,r*"'*"°'"""°'
■"Agination Frfnce, ^euJXoJ^^n™!', "r" »
her ch«nber, defend on tto^ Z * ^J ^'^ °^
■n the quivering.du,k-fr whoZ t^^r"'""*
of conrw, whom the hostelL'T I , ""' "™'
baker'8 boy of Qeneyl "'""'*' '"^ ""^ the
o.fh. 'Veftrtl'^tr,^* d''°"''!''"« *^» "»
of ,u.pioion) PranceTwL'^ htT'l \" *^' '"''"'
oreaicing door unZnTZj^ "'""'*'•• ">« »««
paned window aTtCoW ~»Z. °"* °' «"> "-naU-
not moved, and ^ l^tT^l'^ ''"'• ^he had
buatle, the;ubSety.nd:te^rt wJ''\™*''' "«•
imaginaUon of iJurlce Sh WU^ I*"""^ " *'"
other thing,, that the yfCmarwa^tT' """"^
about our Flower-o'-the^C™^ 7k thinking more
for him. '^™ *''*'> W" exactly good
He .-.woke to find himself being addre«ed by the
-^1«*'
va.^:i-
.:^lilFffiSiK
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. m
r^L '^'J^^^'t f Afdmillan'. regiment h.d
ti2^^'' " •' "'°«'°'«'" «M he, "WM m.de some
>^ ^ 'I """■ y'* ' ''°°'' »°t how long. And if
t be the pkMure or necewity of you two7oung men
Mid that you went without such hospiUIity as mw
be shown you by Patriolc WeUwood. Thrive I h^e
called my daughter, but I fear that sleep hath fauin
answered. So I must e'en be mme own drawer
and setter out of drink and victual I "
And with tliat the mmister betoolt himself with
grave and suitable dignity to the corner^upbW
whence he was bringing out the sUver to"™ „d
glasses, wiping them with a clean white napW^ "d
settmg everything in order, when, aroused b^ tt„
vmwonted clinking, and perhaps wiih an^r a'Ltd
to what was gomg on underneath, Flower^'-the^™
for the second tune came swiftly cUttering down t^
suu,, with the sharp clacking ioise wS herh«h
always made upon the stone steps, as is toS
customary with maids of quick nervous tem^
when Uiey are in haste. She burst inTpon Tm
without warning. aU three of them at g^e om^
bTttt^lTan^ "" '""« -^*'" «■•« -S
be I Did not I teU you that you were never, never ^
touch these gh«ses ! You know that the C Hn^
you^ broke four, beside those which rolC ^nZl
fa^y*' "" "''"^' ^'' ^^'^' ''""8 ^ head shame-
142
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
mi
within me that you weTL .' ?^'*^' ^ bought
thn^ and you aZeZ^^^. '"**<'• '"'"I "'^
it I>.d r^^omet tfci '" t '"i'S.' ~°'»»- For
that in anything -he ootid C^tfT"" ''''''"^■
not. to her father "^ ™ "'^ which was
«^i:rh„t,Xy'^rthf;^°"*'" "■* '^'^O
Patriot WeUwooddi»^„^^*^« Tower »■' the Wall,
of e^ly rising „<j ^i »2^d at large upon the virtues
Young men," he said "I ]>.„„..
your membere while ve a™ ,J ^f^** y°"> "'ortify
birds of the monjl? R?"^ °^*'' *""■• »* «ver
the sky. ere y^tl^ LI^Z^"'^ "^ **" ™° oolour
J^»«iaasgo^fX?gte„7(?S"*V5- ^"'^
held to be for the onl«l ? . ■ " " ^ath been
•lothful slug-a-bed i» .^ ™*'°" °' *« Muses. The
God hath no eompj^i^t' T "^" '" '"'°» «vL
the rose of the ml^-^itb/,T^ f™' " " "^'t'o
aleep-bloom mautliT^Jn „„ **"" *° you than the
•?d the freshness o^hH^ Z r«'«'«"fs oh^k,
hia right oolour in the ouT fS" «'"' "'"« 'h»' gi''^
a little simple oountet wfii^h *^°'?' ^ °*' you
""ke nor mar you^ SL 1?^°'; ^' ""^ °oi*«
produot of this knd to t^„t« ' °' "«''*• ^or th,
.8 makes for whoSome absTtoe^' "' T'*^ " """h
much to my daughtorT^n. l"*^- ^ °''8ht give as
tion of findL Urn u^ri^ ^ ""'' the e^t^
But, ainceZZ^toCte'^^t" ^^ "°^"«-
be gone, like men who ha" o^lf^r" <^"«bt and
^^..^"■^ way. and but rKrjTm'^^-t
iTloworV-the-Corn smiled and 1U1«, the glasses to
'■■H^f
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 143
the brim. Then she presented one to Maurice first
r.!! ^^^^'^^^'^ «^"^e' i° the house, and afterward^
a second to Jean Cavalier.
mnlf^ r* h^ed my father." she said. " his words are
Zr. :^°^P*'^^^« t^^*^ ^ heart. But he cares not
for anythmg save that he may draw a lesson from it
but that he deduces from that the shortness of time
and that I had better have been preparing for et^Lty^.'
" . J T^' ^^°^^' «aid her father, reproachfully,
worH fv. r^ * u*^- R^^^^'^ber that for every idle
word that man shaU speak, he shall give an account."
him^T °*^^;^"^1««« eherub." cried Frances, clasping
h^m about the neck, "it says 'man.' doesn't it!
Well. I am only a gh-1. The Recording Angel, if he
knows his work, will never mend his ^n for'aught
that such a featherhead as I may say • »
The old minister shook his head in reproof, but
nevertheless, gazed adoringly at his daughter. If the
name of the Recording Angel had been dther Patrick
WeUwood or Maurice Raith. there is no doubtlSat
many of our Flower-o'-the-Corn's misdemeanour
would have been disgracefully slurred over
1, i/."t* ^ ^ °°^®^'" continued the small rebel " I
to b«lffi '''^*^* doctrine-that the means "f^ace
to be efficacious, must be frequently applied ' »
sternly have I not told you aforetime that it is iU-
done of you to let your tongue thus run away with
you ? And what will these young folk think of ^ou
and your upbrmging ? I bid you think shame of
your hght words ! '» ^^ °'
Yet it was evident enough what one at least of
Kaith. he hardly took his eyes off the saucy facTof
144
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
it .?the girl ^^h :!';'ZC"if ^ "" """"^ "«
which should one day take him '"*"'
Maater Pier« oiboi^^lou and'l hav" ^'"- " «'«"■
t<«ether, and it i, hgh time that » 'f ""* '"'■'"'"»'
mean to finish i„ timf to^ fheZl •«'" ''' " *"
over the Causae Noir yonder-whrch to d'"" """ "'""''
pastor here tells us is th« .L- uf ^°- *" ""f oW
«Ivation, but only that, other ^in'r" *■" "»? <>'
rising may be mai a ieans ofc^r^/'r'^
I have found it ! " grace— or so, at least,
-in. though hitherto I have „„^^-i.T """^ K"*'""
It k«,ps%„ ,0 puffld up with^ '°H?" y°" »' "•
day, that you are nerfeotlv ,m, '*'''-"8''t«<»«ne8s aU
i» armed to th^ ^l"^ "^PProachable unless one
added, turning t tt youn^'ln'^wr t '?'^" "'"'
reckon with when he takes a tu™ Af ^^ ' ^ '"'™ *»
the sun. If I am five mLut^^*h ^l"*,"" '"'°«'
as_a stranger and a castaway^ ""' ^ *•" «'»
" Listen to her ! " mM p.*.: i
himself. ^ Patrick, chuckling to
na;f^nf ^slt^ ''^r^f'^^ --'"'^ W
morning he rises (as he ^'^;'^JlX tVtl
?9g^''-7w^^r'y'mw-
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ,45
unblemished eye of the day' laavth-*;. 11 r .
do likewise. I love Zh. ./ u\ '^®"- ' ^"^
of a'^enaZ. fiit whou it t bH^' T^" '^
Btorm he will th Jp d';^ ^' ^^^^^ th".. >'''*'^""
sweeter and pleaaantor so-for f K«n^ . • , '* "* ®^^"
cloudy brows of ftov^Ln^^w^^^^^^^^ " ''°"''°« '^«
and wholesome exTrS^MrrttrhHi^^^^^^^
content to do these things himself but m!if f ^
«ours good, have me up out o^my wamTw h l"?,^
past three of the clock wifh nlTfK- ?^ 7^^ ^^ ^''^'
but to listen to'Vel'aktg oftis'^u^U t f "«'*
across the foolscap, registering' tt mighty hotr
which are aroused within Wm by get L^ ?^^^
uaholy hours of the morning ! " ^ ^ ^ "^ **
P«f J[\*^ n^ ^ ""^ wonderful and miraculous » saW
Patnck WeUwood, weiirhtUv ♦• thaf t u ^j , **^
begot and reared a girl hke this wh* n'^u"'*^ ^*^«
in belying and misre^i^Xthe c^^^^^^
to herward. But there i» ■„ „ "™' °' "y »<>t'ons
proverb, though, I beUeve wit"ou7s.r°"^ " «°«'
of the exact sort, •wZis^l^^':'"f.'"'"'"'<^
mother, the oorWe, shrprorh.-^r, ^.^' "'
Well, father," said the girl "I ««:
.' ocinian where my eves Rrf . *" *"•*"*
ev..r,thi„«. I ^Z rtha?ta"tr:r„a, ieb^
before I can accept it AnH ™™ ""S'"^ Hebrew
enough about youf getting up 'iuTr"'- •' " '""
know, as weU as I do thft i? 1 i, '"™^- ^°"
upsetting aU the day Aere " T J°". """°^'""y
with him, gentlemen,^excect ^ S. ,"• '"' ""'"«
the ganlener-by Ueepi:^;P^,rut''f riyTX *'■""
10
f ■'V"T«!^«E'V¥''WffWf*!m
CHAPTER XV.
The Hour Bepobb the Dawn.
.1 r«nd wr^ "I '",-/«?«*»«. Maurice ^
.-J I?' J T ""^ briefest salutation to the nastnr
in the lee of h«lf 7^ a u ^ l^ole-and-cornermg
.n?"*-.^ unconsciously CavaUer countered him
and w.th a parting salutation as brief, but^ „o«
»«c.ous intunated that since he had busin«^ w?^
l^.^^f:'^" """"' '<>"'•• *" -o wise "3ov«
Tnfh- ™''7«°'<'f *» 'tem to depart to^thr
To th« neither of their entertainers offfred Lv
objections. Flower-o'-the-Com because she Sd t^
get back to her embroidery and her qiSet^o^u
m the corner by the Ump, her father blauae on^ld
Bights, when the wind swept the streets l^e ,s a
D actaiess of the bimd alleys, it was the chiefest of
K«. Naphtah." or (most precious book) Kno?,
FLOWEE-O'-THE-CORN. ,,,
rewards fnd per«l"^:L;^,'^ ^Z'^Z ''l ™""
abnct gladsome, of comfort awreTn i^""^;
clear-burning log. and the sweptWh hI""' °f
brown eyes dUated with a sof t l!!f; •' '^'^ «^>'
like that of a girl liatenim, L . ''"PP'neM almo.t
-^r, more eXlv h^? ^ t '*™'"^ sweetheart
kneeasa "oung mother mi^hT*^ '^ ^"'""o o" •>»
To each of ^h! * "*"" ''°'' Arat-bom babe
tender^ her hand witHhf "^ ^'r-o'-tho-Com
untroubled and tenler a! .^7' """" "P*""! glance.
Perhaps (and if thl hln t""^ °' * ''""^ ^ay.
beating frictions oZnd^'i,'^" ""^ chronometer
have been observedXtTh^ ^, """PO-y) " might
trifle tl,o more ^lokTfrom tw"^!:: '"'' ''»'«'«
From which a m.„ ,T^ *' °' Maurice Raith
andaJomtn'anX """ '"^ '^^""«'' -o t^ing
4t' Fnh-at°lg'°?™ir^f,'»7,'T" » «■»
when " loft to the fcJ^l „, "/'"* '""^ »'«' "hat
cateohistically a^ l^.T ''"' '""' «" " "e,
indeed. ' "'"""y' ™'7 Afferent things
the^'kLXT^tlde':?'!? """k""' -^"^
receiving them ^^thT.h °''*'"«'=hiag heavens
high Zsses ikTl^ b te 7the •"'" ,"*"" "' *«
enow-the snow whioK *""■ " ™elt of
For in the vXy oT the D„°T f. *"'^ "P «"'«'•
yet done hangZ blaot ^ ''It *•>« er^P*" have not
good wives ^ U CaT° *' *'""''^ '"'™ the
the white wreal't^^rHoor '""^ '''»^"'«
the opposite ortfCmtft^w™ """ ""'«"• "'
148
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
\i .tH
ovlrMlL7f"'.^'i"^"'"' ''™«y-"'d I»Med them
over intaot, stiU bearing the seab which had been
.mp,«»ed upon them by my Lord Marlborough hlm^U
The young leader of the Camieards lit a lamp «t
.t on the mantelshelf . and, leaning hi, arm S»^v
fMlS^^tf^ """"*' '''""°- ^' he did ao the
fashion of his countenance altered. He frowned
more and more darkly upon the written page.
He looked at the date at the head of the letter
and then at a printed "Eeokoning of Da™ " d^^e
m Toulouse, which was pimied to 1^ desk
You have been long upon the way, sir," he said
somewhat brusquely, to Maurice Eaith '
^^^e young Scot resented both the words and the
Jetlof'tt.!!""- " ^"''"y " "y orders and the
"vll^ f ^T** '^^^■" h« answered, haughtay.
tJ } ll^g your pardon," answered Jean CavaUer
the ft^h bojishness clean gone out of his faci -^ui
are to make arrangements to meet a squadron of
fiS t.^;r' "™'^°« ?I~" *" M^UteTaSean cLt
yet ."^p'e^L'.' °' ""* ' " '^ "'"'- «""•• •«— -y
"J.^°"'"K'f!r"^ *•" y°"»8 Camisard, gravely
H. .k" "J.*"^ ^y» '«" ^ ^° it in. that TJl"
hi. L.T"' ""t.P*?" "Pon the table, and, leaning
hui head upon his hand, stood considering. MaS
larced mvoluntarUy at the writing, which wT^rf
course, perfectly familiar to him. 7w». evenT thl
iiuir
i
FLOWER.O».THE-CORN. 149
young man had said. So many days the allied
fleet would cruise oflf the coast east of Cette I n^
communication was effected during 1hS^% J '^^
would be understood by those in command th^'the
There remained just the three days and no more.
th«f kTJ''*^^''^ ""^ *^^«'" ^*""c« «aid. remorseful
that he had not delivered all his papere upon the
previous night; "you wUl rememberTat Hm a
stranger among you. and knew not definitely t^
that" havT '.H*" ^'""" '"^ P'^P^"- FurtherLn
^at I have nothing to reproach myself with. I came
c^l:^^'^?"'^''^ ''^^ *^'-«^ - -tirely VZl
The young Camisard waved his hand.
1 know. I know." he said. " the fault does not li«
M.^«^oe"rS 'Sr ■'i.'""^ oo^ideration of hi, word,
Maunoe noted the deep oogitation of hi, bearinir
He knew the ,«„, .„d oould not help being „mS
wL^ Tf"' "^y "' ">» «"' GenenJ ofTi,^
when he had an important problem to st.Sv orlS
irrevocable deoiaion to tak« R«.k « '™"y- °' »■•
i^.- n. !• , , " '" ■*»«• JJoth Harlboroueh and
-ean CavaUer had the «me hurried watt to and fro
the Mme knitted brow,, the aame deep vertio«T,™d7
cut between the brow,, which i, the "mS rf
men of thought and action aU the world over
caat^Llota""^..^"" ^™"" ""d "^ hi, pUn,
" You wiU give me your note of hand," he «ud,
"A?tiy. "';i<jfe®:^- -"•'/■'
.•'■"^f...
160
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
addressing Maurice Raith, ".tatrng the day and hour
?ou t?n *''*^ "''"•""on. we^ deuZd ^ me
a printed book " *'°''*' '*^" ^« ^* ^^''^
«.™^ not n.i„d hi, tatt, or y„„ willte Sne^"' ^"
The next moment there was the hntried faD nf
^tep, up^n the atair. Jean CavaT^ '^^f
Th«e days to reach the point designatedX M^'
borough were quite enouKh had th.^^ ^ ■
But at that moment, who taeW ^ '^'' "'*"•
The two hundred Camisards miiht ™.. { *
enthw division of royal troonTv^ . J^. ™**' *"
this did not troubIe'^t&ah^o'°L^; "^ «-»«
p^"^, °'."""»-«'''' -^ ""alt^^to't
rS^n^™'*'1,Tf "™'*'^' '"y »'«' baler's b„^
ra^anLeLredtis^rrdT^^tr*-- *" '^
rJ^X ^°''*' blew-three or four stirring notes re
peatedUmceover. Nomore, Andinsta^^l^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ui
were tlurown open eveiywhere. Men came tum-
bhng out upon the street. There was a glitter of arm,
the padding of many feet, from opened groundS
doo™ a stamping of the iron^hod ho^es of 1!:;::^ "'""
cnJjCl. '"" ~"»- "^» »-y "Pon «s!"
«ect of the PhaiSees*^ ^' °' *•"" '^""^^
^^ But the trumpet rang out again, full and round and
h„i',^""*^ r° ""* " ''"*• '-Th« »emy must be
the™T ""i ™ '!,'"' *'"' o-^y ''°«>. And instant?^
F„, l.^ ^J™' ""^ especially in those of Martin
Fby. whither tte newly-appointed oommandanrS
Jf-i^I "I*""**"™ *» """i" 'l-e weapons which he
had left m the care of Billy MarshaU and his spouw.
For many reasons it had been in the mind
of Maun» to resume his proper uniform of British
officer. He told himself that this would h, Z
orders and the support which was being extended to
howeyer, his reasons were quite different and muc^
that ho had no orders from my Lord i.a^.borough to
any such di^Uy ; secondly, that the fact c ' a BritLh
officer m untform being in the camp of the , a,S„I
would spread hke wUdfiie through all France ^d
b tter than before ; and, lastiy, that he might need
lus disgmse of waggoner to enable him to^t ouTrf
the countey when his mission should be finihS
. So with a amgle, rather reluctant glance at thorough
'^m{4
~^:*./^: rff:r,^
Iff2
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
piatob o- yours a« iutal . ^ -?". ""* I»™iokeUy
the d.„p^^J"i:-:^'J\«/^b„ak to clean when
panying thfexpedition ^.T^S^.^ " ^ '^"'■
upon the lonely girl ^ " *" ''**? *» «?»
whole wb^rrt:.':::^ °' 'r*"* t"-
Bcented between 7....J »»— such ag Maunoe had
whenierodirnSff *.^ r" B'**"*-*"!, once
Hi^''C;n^°"«^^* ""r «>« "«* ^ig"' of the
no^ide^IowT ^tTc^' coming o„, and with
of summer o^h.^*°a„*S t^ f' *"" ''"»*'''
of Caatle Raith swmed ^ M '°* meadows
bucked his sworr z:^;^7z ^.' ^.^
■'~,?r'':
w:m
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 153
going out with a new and rpfl««r,«jki
the night. responsible swagger into
.ounde7' Ttn'^''"" ^^''^^ ^^^^^ ^'^d first been
who li^r^i" V'y " ™'y «'"«'» itaelf to folk
multitade "nd ttri- n?''*"^ 'o «" «»<»»''Ied
Staai thindera ■ "* ''"'""* " "» ""i"* of
" Hear, ye folk of the clear vision thi« I...
to mo audde,Jy_a, the bolt IrZZ cloud "h.
Cavaher turned on him instantly and fir^H u-
I-t it be e^ougVSf you ti^t"/"? u^ T' !?""'
that your trust in ».^« ^' ^ "*^® ^^^'^^ say
youjifi^'Xr'^^rf til" '^'"";'"" y»» ^o*
of ^FVance. Is it ao! TiT it'tTT^"" '^''' " """"^
if r f u° ' " ™'' ^""«*' hanging his head " B.,t
^ thrflltTf G^S /.r-"^ "- ^ •«« '»' ts hatti
"Enough." retorted Cavalier, sternly. "I foresaw
1S4
IXOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
for TOUT «,,r.~!I "if ■»•"»' «" »•>">>»• But
<rf Maurice Raith ^^ " ** P««» ^ mind
Cavif^^^H^ 1 *'"'■ " ^"* » " Solomon," «ud
Sftlnn "''..■P""^*^ ""' "^ hands .; Ta
Deneoiction over the asaemblv ♦♦ k*» -u n l ,
here in my absence TaT^w^; x .x "^^ ^"^ "^®
What say you. Folk of the Bond ? Is my w^rd iTw r '
i^^J::^Varr' "°^" **^^ "^^'^ camVbal'r'L,
-udX^r^rAtL-.tiU-wiS'^* '-^^
outstretched. ^^^ ' ^ ^^ ^"' "»«
it r»^L?*"-^^^ or he shall die 1 We will see to
» I they cned as one man. *" see lo
And at the sound of that hoarse -viiiir Catin** ^m
soldier as he was. turned pale. ^^' ^*' ^'*^
cie^^th; S:p\^U't«?«*^ ^'^"^^ ^*^*'
««i.- • "^^ •^"'P'»e^. au the offices and exerciafla n*
rdwon. In » much «il tafc, the QenX^ w
IIOWER-O'-THEOORN. ,55
A» Maurice stood Ii.tenim[ to the k,.™,i „» i.-
«.«m«J m.„e. . ^t .oi^^^. overZlo^Mer"
A mightUy conTenient .pint for anv m.n T t
familiar with." mumurod Yvettl Fov ^th .^
.-^'Ttr,^r.si:L--'r--MX
had been brought from thiahou^ and tt^Z „*"
irtatsf s^e "" '"' r •^-' -wd"t:^:
"p"? * .r'^ • "*" *°>""' °' CavaUer's worda
.. Ai.^^" °"™»^ the Toioo again «oSiv
icil^l^urhn^."!!.'- • P">Phet.lde;,"nS
/ wm H..p';^uiri^_^rf^,'arr™ *'^-
"if'l
m
CHAPTER XVI.
Check !
^TTfi ,1 J^^"** "' • '*t^ Captain Maurice
ff M J^ "desJe-oamp to hi. ExcUenoy the S
of Marlborough, presently known a« Piem I)„1^,
mqm«d-,nto connection with the Flemish towT^^f
Boohe-i-Bayard and Hoo
M the earlier Itahan wars, driUed the inhabitant,
with a aeyere prayfulnem, much as he wrZd^
exerc« hia company with pike and lrk"t<r^ H
eameetla, combined with "•«8"'° J™' <''"«™in«te
-.»n the devoted ^™^ru"^,l^«"- "«»*-'
rotne full For with the return of Jean Cavalier
aU authority to whomsoever delegated, ^uW iZe
In the meantime he must make the best of it. ^'
And he did. For in this matter the old soldier
was quite pitiless. Why otherwise had he seen tte
binsting bombs, the sack of towns ?
There was, first of all, morning service which lasted
JXOWER-O'-THIS^ORN. 197
iTJ'a^?'^ lu"^ *^ "**^^«^ matin^hime of the
«x o clock beU at the little Proteatant Temple Th«n
te^ou.) at the hour of noon, and in the evening thev
SSfab tal^'^f^t °'-.^' '^•^°""-' ''^ '^' -1^
from him .«° • ""'^^ ^^'"^ ^ ^^»"rice to be«
o?i ,^''°^*°°»® imperative military duty-if it werf
onl3.the digging of trenches or thT traiortaLro"
M sixty God-feanng Camirordg from an iU death vZ
spot at which Maunoo ordered them to be olaoeH
i:zti^z """" *" """ '° "''' "" ""'-" ~^"
Certainly Catinat was a heavy burden to any oom-
tr^^hit' *"'""" '°'™- ^""«poyh:^'ur.
H„n "m "*" ''l.^ *"*" *■■» departore of the einedi
a^ady Catinat was developing into a thorn ill the
fleah «, unendurable, that the mUitary chfef "ould
h'Td-rr.^^'^tTor """'-" " '^ ^"^ •'-o.^sjit
f„T:c::^ "^ *° «»^"— ••^t ttt ti^:
toIo'wHnhe'''^""''^""'" "' <^^«"« "othing
to«™ on^u f '"'" ''""°" "' *^» embattled mou^
taineera, could mterpoee nothing. But he obser^^
188
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
with sympathy the ihudder which ran through f»,«
.nd cho«,„. h«i committed hi. daughter t^hr^'*'
.i,J^T}° ""' " ">» W'o »' "nine eye T ihta
oh Id " he had «id ; " «, let her be unto vo^' w U,
you fum my behest, to may the blewiiiB of G™1
Almighty rest upon you. Thu. and not oth^i^ , "^
t^de^^tirv'u^rs.e'-''''- r •i'' ^"^
P Jto be a fa'iftee^d ^d ^ t'' "•"'"'
It waa not a difficult promiae to nerfr.™ .•-
oaae. The difficulty (a. iL^J^ ta^wrwoV^
.^ rhtS..'"^ «"' '^ ^^' "^y favour^p^rtio':
•idering her«,lf under yo.^ p^tlSn W ^'"
our coming hither. thia^you,r&'of^^n
I have amaU doubt that thou wUt do likewiae I "
Thus accredited. Maurice lost no time in present-
nw lumaeU at the weatem gatehouse. At the^
foot he came suddenly on an ancient oh^omn W
head ™pped completely about in a pair of ' her
be-^^rrct'.''"""''' "^ '^ ««' ^^'-4uely
Maurice was wondering why auch women aU the
-ffflJI
FLOWER.O»-THE^ORN. ,59
world over, should hare their heads wraDned „n f
toothache-why their petticoata sJorS'^^avs Z
ample enouffh for hnlf « a^ ""um aiways be
J r.l^ r^ Pj^t 7-^h- "oated feature,,
gap.." "*' Steinkirk, waa " mostly
bwlr ;i4,;'"' i*.?i "•!, -««ered.h«.kily ; " the
Ye.tr.,.. .. ...0 ,:.,„ 71 ertatllrT," "T"' "'"•
TT-, , , ' ^^ ''"natter, but to-dav^ ♦»
»^K 01 in.o a trampling measure :
• ^'.'J- pc'r. - ./.«i r«* and thunder,
* ' .» i/i*' I '. /tnon 6e^-n fo shoot,
^^(^■J» tnd goU and plunder
nhen the carlin* pouch the loot."
What has become of MiafrMa w«ii
a.^ake^oHaeat.e.r..err^:^r/uU^-
3^^:?rr;^rrtr-'^,,.,
d|.tmet.on in thi. pl.ee, where the™ aU^v !
plunder aU night. By mv faith rJ. .1^ t "^^ *"<*
even-down heithen t^_ " ' ^ " ""^^ •» « «'«•».
JTAere w <Ae young lady / "
:«irxttf;;'^\^-«,^^^ the
Jhatwere^ too difficult a'^^^Uon"?:!' ^^ ^Z^"
160
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
placed, a gold coin within them. They closed auto-
matically upon it. She tugged at the ungainly trouser-
leg which was about her frowsy forehead with some
vague idea, perhaps, of " mailing her manners."
I thank you, sir," she said, biting the gold surrep-
titiously. Come in, como in with you. and see that
old Jf^lise speaks only the truth."
She lurched forward as she spoke, upsetting on
her way a can of dirty water and a dish-clout on the
boards of the floor.
"I am to keep all clean during my little lady's
absence. You have not another of these pretty yeUow
things about you ? " she stuttered. " I have been
sore tried with my breathing, and I find these labours
a deal too hard for me ! Eh, dear, if ever any one was
bom to be a lady. I was that woman ! "
Maurice felt a sudden spasm of disgust, but
curiosity drove him on. -e . ^
"Which was her room ? " he said, hastUy ; then
as If ashamed, he added. " I understand she is irone
away-you wiU tell me where? In the meantime. I
would like to see her room— where she Uved. I mean • "
n f ?' *>« •^|»«°»berod well that in the room in which
Patrick WeUwood had received him. there had stood
behmd a screen the phiin camp bed of the chaplain of
Ardmillan s regiment.
The old woman, with a grumbling whine about
knowing when she could trust to the generosity of a
great man, led the way up a stair and threw open a
door. ITiere. sweet and white and clean as her own
?T. f. ?' ^"^ Flower-o'-the-Com's chamber-the
bed folded down and showing the linen, fine and choice,
the walls of oak smoked black by the reek from the
great open fireplace, with engravings of great men and
oblongs of embroidery and tapestry work upon them
J'T^WER-O'-THE-CORN.
.. . • 161
Maurice Itaith) wwlTond!' ^ "^"'^ "" «*• V- «t
CbriUen. '"^'' *» *•» Aubeige of the Bon
"ffer it i. the bW you „i^7f ever^hing , Bnt I
«« ail alike. You wo^^t • '^''' ^o" '°'**«'. you
Poorneet. AU the I^ *'™ ""J""'" for the
Eliae for .howll^^ft "Tou"^?" *"' °°' '»■««' poor oU
» P"" a -Pirit to t^ J"! «^-eUi»g-phJ o^
hoot,. Inetinotively he too^ « "■."P'^ """"^
open door. „id « J^"! °* •"« hat at ^
•toie .UenOy awav hin ?^ . P^^"' Md «,
the drunke„\ld ,J;^ ^, .,"'"""'"*• "^'h^
Pleaaed her. ™° *" '""o* or not a. i?
^h^ooked up the eha^her. and gr„„b«ng„ ^
he la^""" *''7''" "y Mi«t"« France. h.w
The ^d" '*"'°"'y " he could "^ «""• ' "
of her hnaband-. bChe^Lr?^""'' ''««W
that over her blowey^"^ »»« ""i. wayTnd
by the aide of her nW^>K ''*' *■*» ounnuiirfy
~". " Don't you wi^i^t/ge'tTf:? """"^ob
12
^^.i^'^im^^wmd:
182
FLOWER^'-THE-CORN.
Maunce ever wiUing to take the plainett road to the
solution of any problem, extracted a second gold Louia
from hi. pocket. He held it between hi. finger and
thumb m fuU view of the blear-eyed crone
"Has Mistrew France, at the laat moment aocom-
pamed her father ? " he aaked.
Madame Eliw riiook h^ head .o empha«oally that
^ rum. of a tobacco pouch, the bnuM clasps worn to
the quick, tumbled out of the pocket of her headdre-
and debouched it. contrat. upon the floor
hour, last mght reading good book.-her father',
book.. Then came Miatrera Foy and took her away—
eayujg that it wa. not becoming that , young girl so
beautiful .hould be left alone in such a wiThouse !
He, he I Doubtless sh^ had an inkling of your coming,
Maurice turned on hi. heel a. on a pivot and .tamped
^ way out angrily. But the crone pursued aftoi;^
him cprmg. "The gold, good gentleman! The
AnH*° ^ T ^ .^^^^ ^*^"^ "^ P^' °W woman I
And mdeed, I would have kept her if I could, kind
gentleman^ Much more money would have come to
poor old EhM if .he had remained here ! "
nf ^M *^K."^*'i'**' ^""°* "^y ^^'^"^ **»• piece
of gold, which the unclean hag caught ere it fell and
.towed away in her pouch carefully. For did it not
^^K*hl ""^^ "*' procuring many smaU square-
foced botUes-an export of the States General of
Holland which Madame Elise counted more precious
than whole parks of artillery.
Then with a peevish drunkard's curse she con-
signed her benefactor to the particuUr Hades known
a. the Paradu« of Fool.. She had no respect for
young iu«u who nyut their money lo foolishly When
FLOWBB-O'-THE-CORN. ,93
.weUed f«e, noV wt h^^ ^ ^-^noou'ly from
■mghtooncei„bly J. S^ '"'"'• ''''*' »«•
I
CHAPTER XVII.
Kkpeb which Otjebk, Bezohmk ?
llf^" *?** "*" """■•'elming w„ the influence of
Jean Caval.or upon the CamiMrf, who had „Z^
themselves m the little town of U Cayalerie 3n
he c„wn of the C„«e of Larzae. that no„e"entu«S
to counter Maunce in woM or deed, aave Catinat ^Z
-and he rather by making it dilBcult to earn- out
h» miUtary diapoaition. owing to .uperab^dTnt
rclipoua exercsea than by any direct op^ition
beL^tn ' rf "" **"" "" ^^^ *> Montrevel
► , J^„ """»'«" ""«*«» "otivity. He moved
vlv rz "s" t* ""'r""" ^oupied r;^
rnrtfLi ? fo"' *'* «*'• "oeption of the
f»t,fled village of Saint Veran. a perfect oagfe'^
«.t u,»„ an emmenoe «, completely i«>l.tedrihat
^Lm, T"" .u' ^ "'"•'« ""''•d communication
be held between the Camiaarda there and tho«. noon
the nearoat eacarpment of the Cu«» of LaraT S
took place even over the heads of the King'. outDoato
who often used to fire upwaria at the paokag^ S
we« sent to and fro overhead upon the^iWta.
^dte. on the chance that they might contain 3
Camisard nr two. e«>aping from the hencoop of Z
Thui move of the enemy wm rather a relief than
otherwise to the feelings of Maurice Raith. It g^"
FLOWER-O'.THE-CORN.
I
165
o^hS?„t"'r °' "^i^ "» '-« «"»« Flower.
^ n. WM m the «me hou« .nd inaccewibie to
of ^ntr W^^^^'^j^r: "r 'he ide« o, desire.
Yvette Mw to itTh^tW » " '~/ °' ^"™ D-boi,.
The whol.^^ . xT °" ''°' "'"od out.
on.. mZt^' °JhX» ^■■^«- ''" • <"»'''-
Cavalier (as not . ..J^- ., '^" '«" "whind bv
unweariedthta^^r^ y-"«.«"«| """"J' -"
together. Many oH?. f * '""*''""«°"'"nay
parted, and hS wL ^. J*"?""^ 8»<»t. had de-
enterUimnent than that v™, ^ Maurice Raith'e
for. It i. quite^iw/r* "''" T" "' «« grateful
"oeived from hLSL .T7^' """ '» "V h'"
At aU event. 7e^i^ » '^\^ ""' »«"'.
had no difficulty TcomL"^"''* *""«'' """"'^
with Yvette Foy b<, oo^H^ J° '"oe-to-face .peech
the direction of b;e.kin^ dl^°i*'^™°-'« ""^ 'tep in
which HowerV-^J^„^°C t''\'«''' "^"« "^^ind
herself. «eoom had chosen to entrench
the^'^^tfe* Yv^' ZT '"".'V '•*■" """in
"If. Never waa .70^1^ " '"" ''''° to him-
co«>etted. A^ had 2f^- T *" """"orted and
•n hi. h«irt for ttf JJu. T ^."S.""' '°»««' with
he might very v/eU h«. T "' '^"'*' WeUwood.
•xoee^ngly obv^u^ Uyor^lT^ '""'*" "''h the
Mirt«»y;ette p" °" °' "■* "^n- fair demoi^Ue
hi."'ru^h''t"r etn'^s^d""" '"■*--• '" '--ve
Bon Chritien miXr.n K **"*.• "'''""e'' « the
he fed. and ^t^XZ 'i^' ^^^^^ R«'th „usj
wJl. and the treSlfor . ' """^ '" '""-^ the
Tenones (for he was continuing and
166
PLOWER.O»-THE-CORN.
extending the mUitaiy work, of Cavalier on more scien-
n«vl ?!h f^'^T' "^'^ '"^'^ lideqwite linee) he
never entered the " auberge " or left behind him the
Bha^ tang of the stable atmosphere, without finding
«ll / K *i^ '^^ * '°^«*^ ^»°«' » bewitch^
smile, and a hand pressed quickly to a sofUy kerchiefed
bosom, as if the " long-Iooked-for-come-aMast " weS
a pleasure too great for a form so fraU to endure,
wnrl « T?*: '^ *^® rninvLi^t details of the camp
Z^lf Z^",^"*^ °' **^" "^""'^^ Yvette proved
Jl! . u**^*''^^. ''^ ^'°«"«°' *"*«°«r. but a most
clear-sighted critic.
Never was Maurice so late, but Yvette Foy was
there, ready to remove his cloak from his shoulders
hc^vy as lead with rain or battened white with
snow. An unwonted freedom of welcome, a gracious
and gentle complaisance seemed to envelope him from
t^e^moment he left behind the chiU and dush of the
tht^fJ^t explanation of this was no other tiian
wk" w 1^** ^^'*** ^°y ^^^ ^^'"^ ^o' her model-
who but Flower-o'-the-Com
iJtln"^^^ to herself. "" Here is a man who is to
•ii^* u?® ""^ ^ ^°°- ^<^' » he not a man ? I
willwmhmi! But how ? He is inclined (so incon-
ceivable are the follies of men) to be fond of this whe^-
faced she-Puritan from overseas, who never had a
desire beyond conserve of roseleaves phistered on new
baked bread all her blameless life. Well, if that be
what he admu-es. he shaU have it! But with an
unstaled charm, an untasted fervour, a new insistence,
lie shaU learn a page-only a page of the book which
Has on Its title-page the name of Yvette Foy "
R^t^h S *h** '»«'^e'»t a new life began for Maurice
itaitn. He had never had a woman to think either
FLOWER.O»-THE-OORN.
167
doubth™ hare AM S^i "",'"'"• »' K«i«« wooW
thin blood forhtatfkl"" ^t ^"n"' t" """ "•"
di«i before .h. U St knowit^"*"' *' '""•" •»"
home. He h^tl ^JT "^'"^ "» ""«1 'hoee of
.t^irS:';,:^™ .Wo" r '"P"^" °' — "Jy
aide to mv Lord M.Jn, : ^ *••** 'he yomur
the fi»t"L ""»»"»gh now experience faf
W^woS ^dteo^Sin^lbr *""'? °' ^■'««
on the .t«et. She d^l't wh„II„ ".."'°'"^ ^"^
the Templar,' Hook. ^fc-L 5^ ' ?" ** *°P «oor of
onegre.?™,„"racrrmXi''i:^^'^
•m-ty. M 1. only .ttained by cdW T,^ "'"^""^ "^
J-r« gir. i„ ,,,^ ^ hnit^org-erdSSnrr
h.^'tS;::„rtl"r^e^ti."""' r-p*- 'o
regard to her friend ^°"°« ^^*«w ^«»
BoraS!.:eS:r«r4;^ -»•«■'- ^^^
hia command were already hdHtt ^ *"". ^"^ **'
was concerned, FW^^tc^;!'' h^d "J '"k" ^^
have been with her father in *k ^ ^" ^^*^'"
over the Temphu,' Gate hTi^J""*^"^^* **>^«'
^ i»ate. He looked up at the lighted
168
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I
window of the room which he knew to be Yvette Poy'i
and wondered if there wai within any thought of
him--if an oar (the ear was sheU-thin and pink-
hned) inohned it^tf ever lo little to catch the
cutter of hit heavy boota on the iteps. the tinkle of
Ilia q>un (which being a man and a soldier he could
not deny himaelf the satiafaction of wearing) and the
clank of his labre on the itone turns of the iteir. He
wondered. He lighed, and lo ! there, above him on the
landing, stood a vision which might have turned the
head of a wiser and an older man than Captain Maurice
xCaitb.
Maurice was not vain, but. like most men, he was
vainer than he thought himself. Thus gradually
Yvette Foy's gracious attentions won upon him
And this night after « peculiarly wearing day. when
Catinat (or Abdias Maurel. an his true name was) had
been more than usuaUy hateful, it is no wonder that
the sight of the girl Yvette. in her finest and daintiest
raiment (a gown which had been sent her from Paris
by her friend MademoiseUe Eugenie k Gracieuse)
bending eagerly as if to watch for his return over the
iron balustrades of the stairway Unding, sent a warm
glow through his heart.
And. indeed. Yvette was a lovely vision, her black
hair heaped on the top of her head, confined at the
back with a small diamond and tortoise-sheU comb
the flush of youth and health on hrr cheek, her
hps red as the pomegranate blossom, the most
joyous of aU earthly hues seen against the sapphire
of the sky. Her gown was of the palest blue, such
as an ordinary girl would have thought possible only
with a roseleaf complexion and a skin of milk. But
in this as in aU that pertained to personal attraction
Yvette Foy made no mistakes.
FLOH-ER-O'-THE-CORN. 199
•fffSr ^"T *u ** "?"• "^ ^~' P»^« Wue with luoh
effect M • dark-eyed girl with an ivory .kin and hea3
ma«e. of hair, with blood that ooLe. and g^^n
the Lr'*"^ u"'*^f "P^" ^'' cheeks. rer^,Sre to
the beating of her heart. A little white fringe of
liTto^l];?"*^'"'***; neck-above, the heaped^oare-
teis. tumbled ma««8 of dark hair, the subtle drawing
girlish figure. SmaU wonder if that night Maurice Raith
owned to himself that there we,^ b'ut fewTaiS^t
France equal m beauty to Yvette Foy. of the Bon
Chrttienjn the Camisard village of La Cavalerie
r«uLi nf f ";:"'°.^"^ ""''^ '^' half-petulant
«r^ # ^""^ ''^'^ " certain of her charms^^nd the
aplomb of a woman who can afford to give a man the
full ple-suj^ of the eye without compromising h3f
wh«f k' !!,,""'?""^ ^ ^°«""*»' ^i*J»o"t thinking
thXh^it^^ ' '"' "°" '^"^ ^^'^ ^°^^'^- ' "^^^ -'
" Pardon me," she said, in her own pretty French
but I do not undersund. I have not^the LXh_-
^oj^o'dofit! 'Tis my misfortune ! " *
. J?°!S^ ' ^'^^ "*'*' *^** understood well enough the
u™ J V^'"^ *!?.**^* -^^^'^y. the dumb gazo
k£ ^: ^'•T^ " ■«<**»» •wiety about the state of
of hSr^K*' T ^*' "*^ ^'^^^^ '^^ uncertain tone
^^T**- ^*** ^•^ »» »n » universal laneuZ
:r?^^7*" understood of Mistress Yvette^ fT'
who had had much experience. ° '
hJZT 7f f * ''?" "^"^^^ ^^^^'^ ^ tl»»t dress."
to ^^ H '• ".^' """"^ "P *° ^»»« landing, unab o
to take his eyes off such a radiant vision
Yvette laughed with light amusement.
1 wonder." she said, " how long it wUl take you
170
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
Indeed, it sounded much like it." ahe Mid "k„*
'^•' Kelts' ' / "" »^' '»- i- my^." °'
not im^ „ "S "°*i r »«'".»lgl'f wl.«. you «.
wait* and bins. But not to-night I "
Well then— your cloak f "
.hou1de«%lS?\"''j;r .''~7 '"''^ '™-' °« "i.
^Ly:^ ^!^ «*rv"L\r.^r t?"
•onr-browed gip,y downrtiUr. hin^^'r^^' "" ""•
indifference with wi»«k f^^^ weignta—the eaav
«d w,«. t;e';^:^o:'';ro\ch*j:nrd;rwr.'^r'
P^vSfflP9l.)«RD' ^
I IXOWER-O'-THE^RN. 17,
b » tn. Ounge yonr »et booU then, and then
trMi«d tOHUy. Catinat, I »nppo« u n..>T^ n\
yott AM tell me .U .fte;w.rd.?^' "'^- *"'
1 She janbhed, light a> the flitting ahadow of a bird
when it o««e. the road in the auLhine Nevtrth^
iTnt'^ah^taSl,^ t«"'*~"' -'"""'•^ ^ t
went ahe had towed him a oareleai kia. from her
finger-fp. .noh „ , .j.,,, ^j^^^ ^ "^"^^
tK^. ^ 'u*Tl •'"' *» tWa. a. in other thing.. he^H
that he bad been badly treated by natu™ s.!.k
.»ter « Yvett. Foy/«, f„U of 'nnZLd^""^
vtM' ^7 T" " "■ST''- ^-^ '■•ST- ^'
But he did not get time to apooify the relationahin
motheriy or otherwi«,. in which be de«,«l ^^
o -the-Cora to aerre hi. high ma«!uline maiTty w^
^r 'if h^d"* TT^u^ "■• door'oTfhel^
^t^ than th. 3. ^""^ ^^^ ~»"P'«' '<» other
purpoM« than the doffing of wet mawjuline carment.
For pettxco... and feminine falderal. huSHCt
It, all in a famt indewsribable perfume an atmn.
jphere of dainty white-and-pink coSn Xh tTn^
to Mannce Eaitb'a head hke wine I
herband .nd dry atocCt?; L^°' '""^ -
tone-'Lr™'°'i''!;''".''" *• '""»■ » « "ou-ing
«e w«m .nr^L~xV;:ZTerLt'ho:j
or more befor, the fire before bringing them do^ r"
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172
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
She nodded brightly once more and turned to eo
while he remained dumbly gazine at hp7„ifr 5i,
stockings and slippers in hisVnr * *"
Perhaps it was that whieh made the girl turn her
head over her shoulder with a pecuhariy wTt^hinl
smde as she stood on the second step of the staTr ^
she said * * hostess-to those I-I_Uke ? "
low ".n^^h"*'* ''"'' "' *" ™"t»"«« ™ "Poken very
wruldtarsSTosf mt ^^^' "* '^« ^ -
sai^rndtkThtree:''^ "^'^ "* ''>''* '*"« ^^
^encrii^-:— -c-^^^
the warm wooUen stockings and the easy sl"X £
adm^:?i'^ 'r ''^;"« ™ ™" to beat o:^iS
admiration for two girls at once. His heart w^
Jlower-o -the-Com. How could he be? But !,«
indeed at that moment, he would have Riven anv
to teU him which girl he was in love with And th.
To l°uS'1,'""*r"" ""^ -"«> the Prem.!*'"
hea"; tt ffb tore'gror-l^ s^' "r "'
WellwnnH fho ^ L. V ^' ^°° ^**® Frances
UeUwood, the daughter of one Patrick, of that name
pmquity deal tar more hardly with men than ^th
women, and an early and ineradicable affection^Is
^Place much oftener within the bosom of a woman
than m the heart of a man. wjman
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Dangerous Play op Brother and Sisteb.
Brother-and-sister is by a great deal the most
dangerous game which young people, unconnected
by ties oi birtl^. can set themselves to play
Yet by the fire in the little dressing-room Maurice
Raith. alms Pierre the Waggoner, drew off his wet
H^ilf^. r^.u "'^^' ^^ ^ prodigious comfort endued
himself with the consolation of warm woollen upon
MnT f 1 ""^ "^"^^^ '"'^^^'^ ^^^"g« ^«f«r« he betook
T ul u. T*'""' P*''*°''^ *^d sisterly <e7e.a-/ete to
which he had been invited.
That he did not love Yvette Foy and that he did
love F ower-o'-the-Corn-so much was clear to him
But^ all the same, there was a feeling in his heart both
ITf^ ?. ^"Z^?-^^"*- What ha* he done that 3he
should thus treat him as an outcast, hold him not
only at a distance, but refuse to come near him as
though he carried the pestilence about with him ? '
(B^\ZTlf """"'''^^i^- No man of any pride would.
(By this time he had one foot completely equipped,
and the warm glow replacing the chiU wetness accen
tuated the thoughtfulness of-the Other )
Nine men out of ten are moved by physical con-
siderations in their affections. Women never belLTe
this. or. at least, but few of them. Sometimes the
1
174
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
tenthTn" ir^° ,<J°««. believe it. comes across the
tenth man whose love is whoUy in his soul, and the
Maurice Raith was in every respect a perfectiv
Yet there was in him no thought of untruth K»
^^fr^'^y ^ lo™ was unttad. That "^3 a"
done *:{ ^tto":t •*^; Z T"y '»°"* youtrhave
aone, of two strmgs to his bow." or beKeve (which i«
thIZ '^' **" '"f bow-string, wiU neither ~e
^emselves nor go about his own neck with morelhan
Turtasl. certainty. No, he was all in favo^rf p„:!
s^terly affection" and the commerce of s^X
^thout knowing (poor lad!) that such thLT^e
vam between men and women, unless provideZr by
the family cm)le and the parish register. ^
The sisters whom men desire to adopt are in-
variably pretty, and their mamiers and cnstor Z
not aose of the sisters of the home and the7am%
But Maunoe was young, and did not know this He
his thoughtful hostess an4 charming friend, for a sSer
-a temporary sister-with, of oo4e. prikegi sul
as are granted to aU good real broth;L-who how
T;t:teTol^'"'r.'""°"°''y-^'''«-«'v-ofth:i
.„,„™i -.1 ^' "^ *''* "ont™^. had no such fraterno-
sororia^ dlusions. She understood making ote its
begjnmng middle, and end-as it were, Th gh low
Jack and game - But as to anythii^g mSder-no'
whey SJi„ """ T""^ '-™ *"«« f» mfal^^ith^d!
whey-dnnkmg. please-ooTer-up-my-ankles girls-like.;
j
FLOWEH-O'-THE-CORN. 175
weU-Iike Frances WeUwood. whom they oaUed
fZ'^m £P; ^^^^'-o'-the-Corn, forsooth!
Mower-o -Miss Pnnkety Primsey '3 -Garden-plot, moro
Yvette looked at herself in the glass
" No," she laughed with the low contralto warble
^own a httle scornful low. down in her throat " if
there must be a Flower-o'-the-Com it is I-the red
Poppy IS the only true flower o' the com ' "
And 8he looked in the mirror as she arranged her
hair just long enough to catch the scarlet dash of her
red hps upon the ivory of her face. They were suiiline
scomfuUy, and she hked to see them so ^
She looked across to where Frances Wellwood was
busily readmg books out of her father's library m
which (strange as it may appear) she found at that
time her chiefest diversion.
She glanced up at her friend looping up and ranging
cunmngly the great dark masses of her hair
^^ " Why have you to go down again ? » she asked
surely you have had enough to fret you this day .
And you will nc^ let me do anything to help you I
could cry for very idleness ! " if j^^t-
^vette^went over to Frances Wellwood quickly and
"Dearest," she said, "I did not bring you hither
for aught but to give you such rest and peace as you
need. Rest thee then, sweetness ! I am but a poor
mnkeeper's daughter, and it behoves that I attend
upon my guests. Pardon me now that I leave yor-
frotr th'V"!'^^ "P *^' ^*^°^ ^^^^'^ ^^d slippers
from the hearth, she went out. " For my father and
his fnends." she said, « the messenger wXfor 1 ^^
And so she vanished with a lovely and loving smile
upon her face. And Frances Wellwood thought
f
176
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
withm herself that never since the world began had
there been given to any girl, a friend so dear and un-
selfish as this Yvette Foy of the village of La Cavalerie.
And as she thought a tear stole slowly down from
under her long drooped lashes-perhaps for the love
she bore her friend-perhaps for the lack of something
else which was not in her life, but for which, even
in Its own despite, her whole soul longed.
Then, peacef uUy and sweetly as ever did any maiden.
Yvette went down. She had told no Ue with the
tongue.
She found Maurice Raith with the radiant face
which unexpected kindness always produces upor the
unspoilt and really simple-minded. And so, of a
truth Maurice was. in spite of his experience of courts
and the advice of the First Courtier of the Century.
B hyare you so kind to me r' he saia quickly, as
he saw Yvette holding something very like emotion
m check The thought of his treatment by Frances
Wellwood made the question more keenly edged than
It need have been.
Impulsively, and like a young ghrl, Yvette held out
both her hands for him to take.
" Because » she said, frankly! " I have no friend here
who can understand me— and I need one so ! "
" But the pastor's daughter, Mistress Wellwood ? "
suggested Maurice.
Instinctively Yvette knew that to say a word against
Flower-o -the-Corn would undo all that had been done
She looked about wHdly. and then, as if con-
strained to utterance, she murn. ired. "Must I
confide m you? '
nnSf ^°r^M ^* ^^' '**°^^°« *^«^' «traight.eyed.
quiet, rehable. as one who could keep aU secrets
either of her own_or other people's.
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 177
"1 must! I will! " she said, with a stifled into-
nation, as if necessity drove her.
Si f ^"'".'u^ whispered in his ear, " this is a secret
which must be kept-most of all from Frances Well-
7rait / ^"^ ^'''^'' '" ^''' *** '*** ^^' ^ a spy and a
Maurice gasped
"Impossible ! » he began. "I have known him "
lie stopped. He was but Pierre the Waggoner and
had no right to reveal the secrets of the larchlplain
of ArdmiUan's regiment. ^
nJ/ ^fT.'Kf'^ '*^^' "^ ^*^« discovered his
past-aU of It. I know whence he came, and that he
of t^ ?i K ^''^ r'^""'y ^^°°^ ^^ «"P«"«^ either
of he Church or of the army! You know that as
well as I, if I judge aright ! "
She waited for her words to take effect, and then
continued. The sentences, as if driven frim her by
the stress of circumstances, were punctuated by the
great tears dropping down her cheeks.
* I cannot teU his daughter-I cannot-I cannot '
She IS so sweet and good. It would kill her I dare
And--oftentimes (do not think hardly of me)-I am
so driven that I know not what to do. iTm only^
girl, yon see ! " ' *
thfn^/f "'?• '"'''''"« nndtaguisedly now, the great
throat-rending gasps almost like those of a Sm
forward qmokly, and eaught her about the slender
body. No man, least of aU no brother, eould have d^e
do"t£'°:™7iil!)« stammered, eagerly ; "you
12
■^-«j-.v
178
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
-(:)••
'*£'i
Oh, indeed, if I could believe it, how happy would
I be!" sighed Yvette, catching him by the lapels of
his waistcoat ; " but can you believe it yourself. You
came with a message and a commission. But had you
any information as to this pastor ? "
It was a bow shot at a venture, and it went straight
m at the joint of Maurice's armour. He was silent
for the shot had told. *
Yvette saw her advantage, and went on still sobbing
undisguisedly, but not at aU moving out of Maurice's
arm— appearing wholly unconscious of it, rather.
" But what of that," she said, with a swift impatient
motion of the hand, turning to her desk. " I have
here first-hand evidence of the man's guilt. He is
in correspondence with the Marechal de Montrevel,
Behold his signature ! "
And on the back of an unopened envelope, sealed
with a coat of arms, appeared the signature, " Aug. de
la Baume;' the family name and style of the Marquis
and Marechal of Montrevel.
Maurice turned the missive thoughtfuUy over and
over in his hand. His brow darkened. Involuntarily
a devil's advocate's explanation of many things rose
up in his mind.
Marlborough, who had made him his messenger
official, would never have crossed his track or rendered
his position mere difficult by sending an unauthorised
rival. At least, he would not have done so without
his knowledge. No, with aU his faults John ChurchiU
would never so have dealt doubly with him.
The missive was clearly addressed to " Mons le
Pasteur Patrick WeUwood, dit de Geneve." And in
the corner was written in the same hand as the signa-
ture, " To be delivered only into the hand of the person
addressed."
JfLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 179
" What must I do ? Oh. what must I do ? " sobbed
Yvette. her bosom swelling and the great globed tear^
ohasmg each other swiftly down her^cheeks « I a"
only a gu-l-a girl in the midst of men's affairs and aH
"Your father ! " suggested Maurice.
ver^L^ilLrtL'^ ""^^ ^^^^'^^^^^"^ ~-^.
P»'f ^t'C'n^ 'H^' " '^ ^ ^^^^d *o see the blood of
Patnck WeUwood staining the road one hour after!
then I would go to my father. Indeed. I might as weU go
to Catmat at once ! But. mstead. I have come to you^ '
And she raised her great eyes to his-rich vefvetv-
black, brimming with unshed tears. Than which eves
can look no more entrancingly. ^
' I have come to ask you,'' she said.
And smiled at him-^ver so faintly.
Ihis time she was successful. There was no restrain
exceedingly commendable w^„ " fl^? .r° ^"'"^
made them both turn r;,uld We L "^''"^/"r
letter quicklv behind hJj 7' ,., whipped the
draw herseK ont „?M •' 1.' '^'^ °°' »'"™ *» '^th-
uraw neraelf out of Maunce Raith's enoiroling arm
I i
180
FLOW ER-O'-THE-CORN.
! '
A taU slight figure, made slighter by a closely-
clinging black dress, stood in the doorway. The face
was white as with mortal sickness— the blue eyes
hunted and very pitiful. For while Maurice Raith
stood up warmly stockinged and slippered, in act
to console his sister Yvette— to " kiss her tears away "
— Flower-o'-the-Corn had entered unseen and unheard
to ask a question of her hostess. She stood a moment
watchmg them, with her throat sweUing, her eyes
dilating, the furniture of the room and the figures of
the man and the woman in it spinning slowly round
like puppets in a show. She had some knitting in
her hand, which she held out with a dim idea of
asking a question about it, and so getting away.
She had dropped a stitch, she said, in a strained voice
strange even to herself. '
Then there came the roaring of a great ocean in
her ears, and the nex^ moment Flower-o'-the-Ck)rn
dropped insensible upon the floor.
CHAPTER XIX.
The Market Rate of Folly.
nlhV^^ i^^' f '"^^''^^^ "*« b«»"g oi Maurice
Ra.th was changed within him. He had tried to
it baP L"" ! ^^"^^^''t^ble. purring and arching
^8 back with content, was suddenly changed to a m^
who knows that he has been duped ^ a w, a man
he^an 'rf I? *^' ^^^ ^ ^'^^ ^^^^^^ *^^ °^«°^«"* before,
he ran to Flower-o'-the-Corn. who had faUen chiU and
limp upon the floor. Yvette followed him.
heJhJn^ "J"^^ T *°"'^ ^'' ' I ^^« y°" to touch
He w J h M lu''^ ? '"^^"°^>^' ""^y ^^ knew not.
ar^« A I ^^'J. ^^^ '^^''^^' ^°^™ i" bi« o^n strong
arms, determinedly, almost possessively. The black
dress scarce clasped her more closely or jealoudy
Yvette Foy who never fought so weU as in a losing
cause, affected to believe that he had suddenly gon!
mad, which was perhaps true. ^
" Better lay the preacher's daughter down," she said
quietly and yet with determination like tha of a nle
taking command of a patient ; " she has heard wZ
I said about her father. After all. as I told you she
voulhat T- ^°^f ^« «taU not suffer. I^omt
rhUtenl:n;ron:^' -^-'y ^- ^- -- 1^-
"No, no," panted Maurice Raith, holding the
182
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
j
f
\i I-
unconscious girl the closer in his arms, "that has nothing
to do With It It cannot have. It is not true. I have
stened too long to lying wcrds. You shaU not touch
her. I will take her away-I myself, Maurice Raith
I am a brother officer of her father's. I tell you. He
Ta T": ^"r ^^^ "*^*P**^" °^ * British regiment
-ArdmUlan's. I will be responsible for his honesty."
Doubtless, doubtless." purred the accuser, " and
in the meantime for that of his daughter also ! These
things are best judged of by young aide-de-camps of
my Lord Marlborough's. They have had e/peri-
ence of many honesties-even as their master hath, or
he IS sore belied." '
"Her father committed Mistress Frances to my
charge before he went away." said Maurice, still hold-
ing the girl jealously in his arms. " As for you, you
know "^ st '"•n ''^'°^'?. ^^""'^ ^«'-^»^y' I <^^ not
know. She will never think weU of me again ! "
Yvette Foy began to laugh uncertainly
to hi!°.{w'u *° ^^ *' ^^^ ^ y°^ »« I knew how
;?! .T" ^!, ^^ ^"S ^*^*' ^ '^ ^^"^^ ^ be with you
aU of a sudden ! But-well-I have never expected
or experienced anything but injustice and ingratitude
aU my life. So why should I look for anything else
now from a stranger and a man ? " -^ »
But her words the admired disorder of her dress
and air. even the pitiful squaring of her mouth, all
tell dead upon the compassion of Maurice Raith with
the warmth of Flower-o'-the-C!orn's body striking
slowly through to his breast. ^ °
"I teU you, I wiU take her away from here." he
stammered, hotly ;" it is not fit that she should
aweii m the same house as you ! "
n«i!l^i^!r''*.?°l' ^* ^ midnight and a storm," she
oaid ; the girl is insensible from shock. She does
'^^
: FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 183
1 -t go of her own accord. It will be an action so
manIy_8o British, to take lier away in that condition
from her only protector. And besides, houses are
not so easily found in a village and at this hour ! "
The irony would have daunted many a wiser, many
an older man. But there was in Maurice Raith a
consciousness of right intent, and the fear that the
girl who had so easily entrapped himself would not
scruple to exercise her wiles on the mind of Frances
Ueliwood, that ho was resolved at all hazards to take
iier away, and hold himself responsible to her father
upon his return.
He moved towards the door with his burden. Yvette
l*oy stood in front of him.
" You shaU not," she said ; " she is my guest. Her
character would be lost it she left this house with
you, and in such a manner."
" Stand out of my way. I say, madam," cried
Maunce, furiously ; " the character of Mistress WeU-
wood needs no other defender, in the absence of her
father, than Captain Raith. Her father left her in
his own hired house, and he gave me alone the right
to protect her. I will take her there, and woe betide
tiie man or woman who stands in our way ' "
"Father! Father!" cried Yvette Foy. suddenly
iitting up her voice, lamentably, " help— helo T
beseech you, help ! " f - f ^
And from some chamber where he had been pre-
paring himself for the repose of the night, Martin
Foy flung himself into the room, having, like the old
soldier he was, taken time to arm himself with his
great WaUoon sword, that he might be the more
ready to succour his daughter in her need.
" Yvette, you cried— what is it. dearest ? " said the
old man, standing in his turn aghast at the sight of
184
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
.1
li
^mioe. supporting the insemible Frances in his
t„ J*"* "*» ?!* ^^^*^ "^•" »•>« "ied, pointing
ttin T! ^'*' "''" ■""> »P°k» evil fhings-
lou will not fail me, I know ' "
tlt::iit''^' ^*' '""-=" '"«' -t 'hen
are'^Put J^^'i !i ''" °"^' "'*"'«' ^*^ -tere you
are. Put the girl down, or by Saint Anthony, I im
vtals^"^!'"' °f 8«d Ypres steel through your biS
vitals! Bo you hear me? Down with the girl > You
are in Martin Foy's house. Do a, he bids youV"
tl,.1^1 °" "T**"''* advanced so fiercely that
there is no saymg what might have happened (Maurice
Mw.airr'^''^*.''"' ^ burden), had not BilT^
MMshall. heanng the sound of voices in high dispute
and his master's among them, come rumii^ ^Zt
to the great hving-parlour. where Yvette's IpJ (fet fo^
Maurice s comfort) were still sparkling and Rowing on
the hearth, as oUve roots will kn| after they are
wanted Bflly arrived in some hast^taking th^st^p^
three at a time, and bursting in upon them like ^
incursion of the enemy at the sack of a city. TOe
to hL r **'"'.*^'' *° ''"' *'" '""^t'o^ plained
\,?^ ^"^ ^ '"*^*«' '^"» a lovely girl in his
arms. That needed no explanation. Even%o. with
f InHI M™ 1°^ ^ "*'■''*"'* ^^' *"d only on; good
fnendly MarshaU to keep the most immediate plinto
off^ho had m hU time borne away Bet (who hadCa
iaa, and by no means so heavy then as she had since
1
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 185
become), bo much to her satisfaction, that she had ever
afterwards proved herself a loving, faithful, and obedient
wife to him. even as the law of the land requires.
Therefore BiUy took no severe views of the little
circumstance of finding his master with a lady in
his arms. Rather he thought the better of him
JNext however, he saw a man with a yard-long
sword, menacing his master, and though BiUy did not
speak French he understood very well the language
of deadly threat. The sword was what Billy in his
contempt for rapiers and all blades which were not
made for both cutting and thrusting, called a " poking-
stick. Ojviously, however, the man was threatening
his master, and the point of the rapier was very near
lUese things were sometimes sharp. It mattered
nothmg that the man was known to him as the owner
of the house. If Maurice had been carrying off Martin
J^ oy s daughter under the other arm, BiUy would have
stayed just as short a time to debate upon the morality
of the proceeding. He simply seized the first weapon
which came to his hand. This happened to be an
ornamental chair, brought thither by Yvette Foy
t^tu?^^?^^ ^'^^ wicker-work of the rustic sort.'
With this he mterposed manfuUy between his master
and Martm Foy. The old soldier made a pass at him
as the more immediate adversary, and the point of
the Walloon sword, passing between the withes of the
seat narrowly grazed the back of BiUy's brawny hand
which grasped the chair at the most convenient point
for both oflFensive and defensive.
The next moment Martin Foy felt his hand suddenly
light m the air. The WaUoon rapier had been twisted
bodily out of his fingers, and. whUe he stood idlv
wondering what had happened. BiUy, with the chair
thrown aside, and the blade glittering m his hand
186
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
was asking for orders from his master. -Wull I
bide and stick htm while ye are oxterin^ aff the lasses ? »
*****
But the desires of Maurice Raith were neither so
rnurderous nor yet so generously uxorious as BiUy's
Blv to"t ^^^^, P-^^ded. Instead, he order^ed
Billy to gather up his belongings and foUow him.
Bill. M l^'^^V. T'^ ^^^ g^P^^' shrewdly, "that
TbLJr " ^^d t,et^r maybes come alang wi' ye
dud. nf. ' ^''T:"^^.r^ ^°' *^^ *^°^«^« ^"d the bits o'
duds after. Bet will bide where she is till I bid her
stir to see that nocht is stown awa'. An> are "
na,that ye are only wantin' yin o" thae lasses ? »
.rP.r^rT?"'.f ''''^^'^ P°^^^ ^^^d' indeed, it was a
h mselff Bi^^^^^ f "If ^/-^^ - «*-te of kssurance
h.mself) BJly abruptly bade his master to " Gang on
then. WI' the wumman ! '> while he himself w^lf the
captured WaUoon " poking-stick " kept at bay the
master of the Auberge of the Bon Chr6fien. andTwhat
was considerably more difficult) his daughter aLo
Now Maurice had not felt the weight of the slight
nowt r."'"^*^ '^''^'^'^' -- -P- him b^
Tnn and^nfr'''^ '""l ^'^"°" -i-^ing stairs of the
Z'f,W? K f /".r ""^"^ ^^ ^^""^ himself facing
the full burst of the storm over the naked and wind^
itrowTn' .*'%'^^'^ '' perspiration burst Tom
his brow, and he fronted the headlong rush of the
tempes with a kind of fear lest he should prove
unequal to the task he had taken upon him. ^
But the very bitterness of the blast drove the oxygen
into his lungs, as it were, in a compressed state fnd
m a trice recovered him. '
nr.f.^l^^'^^^''^' ^^ ^^«^° ^ ^eel slight stirrings
set ht?^?? °^ P^'^'T ? '^"^ ^^^^^ ^hich he Zl
set himself to cany. And with these came Maurice's
"■^■"''rw^
3^X0WER-0'-THE-C0RN. ig?
fii^t qualm of doubt as to his action, quickly mounting
in o fear and shame, so that even in the bitter Arctic
cold of the Larzac night, with the ground white with
irr rhisTrt'^^^' '^ '-'' ^'^ ''^^' -^ --
In his first indignation against Yvette Foy he had
aken Frances Wellwood from what might prove to
be her only home. WLat had he to offer her in ex-
change-especially in such a place ? Moreover, the
vision of how sh j^^^ ^^^^ ^^ j^^^ came back to him
through that triple armour of excellent intentions v.hich
usually supports the young in their most remarkable
and extravagant actions.
The night was dark in itself, but lit as all clear nic^hts
of the Gausses are, with an infinite multitude of stars
Across the north towards the valley of the Tarn and
arching the grim Causse Noir with^a mural crown of
wen-d and awful greemiess, the broadsword orthl
Northern lights flickered and smote
Maurice's first intention was to make his way towards
eastern or the western one he would surely find a
Maunce with his burden took long strides Thev
were not long in arriving. Both houL over the twta
gates stood up dark and eold. But upon the westeT^
most^doorway Billy Mar^haU thundered with Tswo^
ti^^ V'^'^f'*' °' ">« d^'Pi^d " poking-stbk "
which he had brought with him from a fceWthat
any weapon was better than none ^
It was some time, however, before he produced anv
^^t and in the meantime the continLnce^ the
Blight but mmustakable movements warned mI^L
L'l
188
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
that in a few moments he would have to reckon
not only with the difficulty of providing a homf?
Frances Wellwood. but wL tL sttte' of tSd t
«. to ^""^ '^'^ ^^^"^^ ^-^ herserupon
returning to consciousness.
Had Maurice possessed the experience of men
tZTy.""^, "f"^"^- ^'' "<»"<' undoubtedly h"ve
and clanged the knocker before spweding out unon
but Zk J"'.*'""- -- y-And ardeft, v'i h
but Uttle experience of women. Fortified by BiUv
MarshaU and over-confident in the power of hfe own
persuasiveness he vaingloriously stLl his ground
infill h": "'"" ™''«» door, which as usual opened
in the midst at about the height of a man's head
p::^^z ^rCii^r— "
his arms grew more weary. i"^oymg as
" I am my own mistress, and this is my h use «'
nol'lTthem'^Lt f »"^ ^'^^^ ^^" ^^ ^ ^ ^^ ^-«
bacWn f ^^^,5^d«f o«eUe Frances Wellwood come
back to her father's house. Admit her this instant
1 command you ! " ""stanc,
Maurice was rapidly losing his temper.
oonn^TJ'T.-,?'^^' '^' ""'^ ^ ^"«ken woman!"
counselled Billy, over his master's shoulder
But Maurice had little more time to make up his
mmd The movements which had been no more than in-
voluntery stnrmgs, evincing a lack of ease and general
discontent, became the convulsive strivings of a woman
trymg to loose herself from constraint.
«'
1
«^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ign
' " ^^here am I ? Where am I ? » cried Flower-
o -the-Corn, hysterically. " set me down ! Who are
you ?
For once Maurice Raith. aide-de-camp to my Lord
Marlborough, had his hands quite sufficiently fuU
He decided first to get the door open, and with a furious
expression he ordered the old woman at the wicket
to undo the bolt at her life's peril.
But she, bemg at that point of excessive virtue onlv
reached by the nine-tenths drunk, now raised her
voice m exuberant protest.
;' No man " she averred, " shaU come to my weU-
domg, weU-deserving. weU-considered house at this
time of the night in order to foist houseless youne
women upon me. Madame Elise is my name-one
weU known and reputed in the whole village of La
tavalerie for over forty years "
At this point Billy suddenly thrust the Walloon
blade through the wicket with the idea of jamming
It. and so by the introduction of an arm, forcing an
entrance mto the house. But his scheme, excellent
m itself, miscarried.
There was a spare grating of which he knew nothing
m the inside, wnich now shut with a spring, and lo! the
WaUoon "poking stick " justified its reputation by
snapping close to the guard and leaving nothing but
the hilt m Billy Marshall's hand.
The wicket went to with a determined clang, and
from the soft subsiding hush which came from bdiind
It. It seemed probable that the defender of the citadai
nad quietly succumbed to the joint effects of her own
Duteh ^"^ *^^ '''''''*^^ '"^ ^^''^ denominated
But Maurice had no time to think of her
Frances Wellwood was standing before him-the
w
190
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
kM.^
Si
cloak in which he had hastily wrapped her fallen from
in;h.t.rei.^°h':r -"'"' ' ^"'- ^--^ -^y ^ -
Se-farm t recovered she swayed a Uttle.
mauncea arm went imtinotively about her ah»
« away from hia touch as fro^ a A':,' defile!
ti^^ro^u^f hi'ji;nsrtT"^^^^^^^^ 17,
I have nothing to say to you-to e thef of you ^ An J
why have you brought me here ! It is Xlt' Is^t
ahvays to be night J It was night when-S^I Iw
you. Oh I— (she stamped her foot)— go awav tr^Z
WiU the coUean no turrish ? Will th« „„ '
ffth^'ti,!" rr**- ^^^ ^-^aS%rr^:
ora^y^^riSrS^^S; "' -" -"' "^^ -
wad nevTh, AT""/' "«''* ^"^^ ■ " *«« ™« Bet
t \^? ";r,T t -- '^3*';« "ack-thom.
avnA_T'T« o^^- • . ^ ® • ■'tetter sune nor
^1 **^^^"i ye for your guid ' "
in JihnTf *^/ ^"^ '*°^^ ^ °^«^^«*' the hair blow-
o^cirn ^^""' i^" P"^ "P ^'' h-«d a time or two
to clear her eyes. Her thin black dress, wind-cSveT
clipped her ankles tightly. oriven,
"This is my father's" house— my house" 8h« ««,-M
with an air of rehef. "I will go^ i^°"^o-!l ^h,;^
'1'
■■i
!
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 191
or wam"''"' " *^"""" '^"^"^"^^ *° <-«'
dofr'Tt'''"-'w ^ "'"''"y' »"'' "''''» '""der upon tho
tZt ^''S "'"h' ^'" oP^-^gai". and such a toWent of
abu8o and evil language poured out upon the night
that F ower-o'-the-Com set her hands to her ears wUh
mst.nct.ve horror, and fairly turned and ran ouTupon
" Z^. fi 'Ti°!' ''"*^ '°™"<* » her path.'^
IVench He ran after the girl, but she turned u^on
a^ Tt^ f' desperation of a gentle thing conTe^S
and fightmg for .ts life. She drew a skeandhut^
her garter and threatened herself with it as h"
approached. ^
" Do you hear ? Do you hear ? " she cried " T
swear it-by my father's God, who wUl forgive me • If
you touch me or so much as make one step forward
nearer to me, I wiU kiU myself with this knife "
They were close together. The wide barren Gausses
were white-sprinkled with sparse snow. The ren
pulsmg of the aurora came more and more fitS
from behind the hiUs. Maurice could see^t^leam on
the blade of the knife which Frances held to her
throat and on the whites of her eyes
He hesitated, and in that mom'ent Flower-o'-the-
Corn had turned and fled away across the g oomW
wastes, towards the barren crater-like ridge wS
Maurice had made his first camp. ^
TJe young man stood petrified, while Billy Marshall at
h.s back whispered, "Aye, aye. maybes noo'^^end
to what I say the neist time ! Had ye gi'en her a knap
tTai^L'' r? ",f^-%*^^ -d hae\fen nan" o' thi
heated . ^^ «^.»\^^nt"^* aneath the fower winds o'
nicht, an Bet (though as rank a Faa as ever steppit)
u
192
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
has been a' her life the douce, weel-oonduokit, soiwy,
obedient woman ye ken the day ! "
In the meantime Maurice stood outside the town gate,
Billy Marshall at his right hand, an amazed Camisard
sentry watching events with black doubts of his com-
mander's honesty rising in his heart, while over the
vast green-lit levels of the Causse Flower-o'-the-Com
sped unchecked into the darkness and chill of a
winter's night.
'M
f
n«y.
ate,
1
1
lard
om-
1
the
1
om
1
a
i
CHAPTER XX.
The Mystery of the Crystal.
MAURICE stood for a long minute, dazed and drun cen
^th f,f^^^/«^°fi«l^°^ent. BiUy was at his elbow
with the best, but most unworkable, counsels as to
how to treat colleens who. to their own dis. ivanta-e
sent mto deadly danger the only girl he ever loved.
nonf ' JT ' ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^' ^^^^ B% Marshall
contmued to remind him that he had told him so and
the Camisard sentinel by the gate solemnly resumed
his beat, as if washing his hands of the who/matter
•fi, u 1 :T^ ^ «^''®' *^*^'« undooted." said Billy
with belated penetration; "an' sae far as I can sel'
sumphm there. Gm ye had ta'en my advice an'
the ither. I mysel' hae often fand it that wey in the
canym' o' boxes-no to speak o' percels • »
save to the indubitable fact that the girl was gone
declaring that the best they could d.was toTke
counsel together and decide what had better be done
drift of snow blowmg, and the surface of the Causso
hard as the nether millstone.
13
104
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
No tracks would lie for a minute upon such a night
and they must do the best they could with the seLs*
God had given them-which. as Maurice thought with
Tbortrng: "^" "" ''' '^' '' ^-«^' - «--' -"-
La Cavelerie lies high-on the v-ry ridge and back-
bone of the Larzac. No wind blow^ buf searches it
like a sieve. Jrom verge to horizon verge there is no
cover the height of a gooseberry bush, and even tSe
earthen ramparts which theCamisards had thrown up
though no more than a foot or two in height, actually
a^rded some shelter to the vUlage from the piercing
Yet it was on such a night, in a thin black dress of
seme soft stuflF, that Flower-o'-the-Com had fled ou
highest, Causse m France.
Jni 'Ar''°"*'^ ^ave done Frances Wellwood the least
good xAIaurice Raith would gladly have put a pistol
t ^ ^^t^^T *°^ '^''' *"^ «*^°* fai°»«elf out of
hand. But he knew that the girl was gone on his
possiWe '* ""*' ^ "^"^^ *'' ^'^ ^^' *^*°1^' ^
A thought occurred to him. At the time it seemed
like an inspiration. Of course it was an impossibility.
a thmg to be laughed at, yet, nevertheless, somehow
he could not get it out of his head.
" Catinat .r Yes, Catinat 1 " Stranger things had
happened. There might be something in his second
sight after aU. He had heard of it if Scotland It
least it was worth the trying !
"Let us go and knock up Catinat! » he said, hoarsely
gesl^on ' '"'^'^' ^^^ '^"^^* "^^""^^ ^* ^^ «"g-
" Ye hae mair sense tlian Ilookit for," he cried; " if
!!
if
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. ijg
hidden heraer, .f. him. I h.e lieord teU that when
he wa, a youngster amang the laddie-boy, he WM
o gyt yml That waa afore he took ud wi-tK. I
phetin- an- siclilce . Catinaf. thr'e^^ man tC
that «. .f ye can get haud o' him. But he ii mat^
o'the R 't ':V^'°"'"' • ™"^-fo-word ex^o^eeUon
o the Bu,k o- Solomon hi. Sang, than to help ye to
get^ back your am sweetheart ! Aye. a deU .Icht^i^^r
Neverthelew, since the thing w«, worth trying to
Catmat they went. It was, as BJIy had pro "^osti
to'bi^inT""^* *''""" *° «"' «"« propC-r:
feafa'ndSht f ''"'^ '*'' ™° '^^^^ » " ■*» "^
tear and that hysterical nervousness which comes so
easily to woman. WeU, he had heard of sucHke
but there was no e=tact paraUel for it in the Scriptures'
ov;^'i^lef?s"hX.''''''°'"' ^"'^- '''-P"-"^.
" For there we hear teU of the ShuUamite that went
about seekmg her love untU she should find hto
hough m this instance I understand that tte siriH:
rm1l'Sr;lrS- ^Ti^r^ "'^^-P-
before I Jch the Itt wr:™;f fi";:^™r :^
thmg of stain upon your conscience, aught that Z"
would be more loath to tell to the girl'sTtht \C
his"h::d'?oieL^r' "'" "'"''""'^' '^«°»""P
by the wrist and putting his hand down agaiT " Wh""^
h
196
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
mi
■^
^3
■
m ...
B^tt^
aL- --^-^
IS a man but hia naked word? If I had not believed in
your honesty, would I have permitted these poor
sheep to obey you for so much as an instant ? Would
I not have done unto you even as did Ehud in the
summer parlour at Gilgal ? But I did not. Because,
though I discerned that there was lightness in your
thoughts— yea, lighter than the wool of the first
fleecing of the rams of Nebaioth, vain with the vanity
of the men that gathered to Jephthah in the land of
Tob, yet for all that I said within me, ' This is a true
man— this ! ' "
And, having come to a standstill at this point,
Maurice Raith, who was all on fire within, demanded
of the prophet if he could tell where at that moment the
girl was. *
Catinat looked at Maurice and shook his head.
Then he glanced at Billy Marshall and asked, "Is
he innocent— that is to say, simple— like his' look
and speech ? Or is he even as other men, come up
from beneath the grinding- wheels ? "
" He is even as other men ! " said Maurice, wonder-
ingly.
" Then he will not do for me, any more than you,"
he answered. " 1 have not the second sight myself,"
he went on to explain, " as it is said that your Scots
mountainards have, but only whe power of making
others see— though, I own, not as Cavalier hath, who
can make a thousand men and women see and believe
the thing he will. Yet, abide you, I will bring one
who will see all your desire ! "
Catinat dwelt in a plain-faced little house with one
gable to the main road, mean and poor, with pig-runs
below ; and so, betaking himself to the door, he went
across the court and returned shortly with a half-
grown lad, his sleepy eyes starting from his head.
FLOVVER-O'-THE-CORN. 197
hia hair a mere haystack, his lower lip dropped into
the shape of a V, slack and pendulous, yet always more
or less on the quiver, like jeUy turned from a shape
He appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen!
knock-kneed and needing weekly additions to his smaU-
clothes. Of his simplicity there could be no question.
Indeed, Catinat explained the matter of his want in
his own presence in plain set phrases.
"This is one Antoine Oliver-a mere idiot, an
innocent, almost a cretin, but left here by the Spanish
gipsies ; therefore not to be trusted alone with silver
or gold ! Otherwise he hath not the sense to conduct
himself reasonably. Antoine. turn round ! "
The oaf turned himself unwillingly about -.le one
about to be whipped in the presence of hu school-
fellows. A patch of viscous orange appearea
llothl "^^'^^^ °" *^^ *^'°**^^«^ part of his small-
, ." J?.®'® • " ''"®*^ ^**^°^'^- " "^^^^ did I tell you ? Go
!tln/ K r^tu^°i°'7^^" '°^ °^ "^^"^ b'^^hes which
stands behind the henhouse door. You have been at
it agam ! Gentlemen, this boy at certain hours of the
day or night by a certain strange access of folly takes
himself for a brooding fowl, and will sit on as many as
two dozen eggs at once-yes, now when they are at
their dearest and a hennery is next in value to a gold
lament ^^** °*^ ^"^^^ """^ "'*'' * '"""^ ^^"^ °^
" Indeed, sir," he pleaded, " they were not your eggs
this time, yours are much richer in yolk ! Look you
they are those of old Elise at the Gatehouse, whom I
desired to puniah for her drunkenness."
The point is weU taken," said Catinat, " but I
I
198
FLOWFR-O'-THE-CORN.
begiirr«tnfr " "" ""'''' ^^^ »'■ »--?%
"I would rather have the birh," he saM " tl,»
b.ch smarts and is done with ; but af^er tte T^ll UU
Antome« not h.s own man for aa many aa thr^daya "
pe J:h^tph:r'^ "" "° "^^ *"*" «''-•" -^'-
voL^'';et°tl,ir''" ^'i<=»t'"''t' "'»•«». in a soothing
voice seethiaman. He is the commander of the eoI°
Aers here, and can keep them from taking you away
to serve m the trenches. Also I wiU let you ofi torn
ohu^r" To— """^"^--'^ "* -'y -"- - "-
light° *'^'*^^^ * '"™'' """ «"gg«««vely in the lamp.
"I WiU do it-I WiU do it!" cried the lad- "rive
ZtfLTn"'- ""t ' "'■" «P«*'' tte thing I Z
But tot teU me what is it I am to look for-aTd
said^crt^„''r*' f , '"? °' *""" ^»"«'^ to the north."
^!, 1. 1? ". ' Jf''"'^' '*y'"8 ■>'« band on the bov's
rough head. He passed his long sensitive fingers this
way and that over it, and lo ! an erect and brStlin^
crest foUowed the direction of his hand even whTn t"f
fingers did not touch the actual hair
"I see them," said the boy, his eyes on the globe of
soM crystal long buried in the deeps of the g!uZ o
Pairac, waterworn and rounded, and low pXhed
with rouge and the friction of the pah /the hand
the two best polishers in the world ^' '"e band,
said.?hTdd:rinl'"" "' '"'■ ""'' ""• " "" ' " "o
"Look closer-closer etiU, good Antoine." com-
^3£S^:lM 'X'M^&^Jimtl»6
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
199
1
I
I
'you see no person— no living
manded Catinat ;
creature ? "
" I see a wolf— two wolves— no, a pack ! " he cried
eagerly. '
Maurice would have sprung to his feet and run out
as he was. But this Catinat would in no wise permit.
No he said, soothingly, " it is often thus. It
may not be so after aU. They often see wolves and
wild beasts at first-that which comes readiest. Do
not be alarmed. We shall get at the root of the matter
before long, and that directly."
He pressed his hand lightly, but compeUingly. on the
back of the boy's neck, forcing his head downwards tiU
his eyes were within six inches of the crystal.
"Now teU me what you see; observe carefuUy !
FoUow the Ime of the Gausses towards Saint Veran
and the luggage-cradle. What do you see ? »
" I see two men— no, a woman and a man," said the
boy, dropping into an even pained voice ; " they are
talking together eagerly. She has much to teU him
He holds her under his cloak-holds her closely, thus " '
Again Maurice was making for the door, but Catinat
checked him with a look and a shake of the head.
He 18 a cretin, I teU you," he said, " do not expect
too much. We shall get at the truth presently if we do
not hurry him."
" TAere I have lost them ; the man was m a soldier's
uniform, I saw him plainly." cried the boy ; " like the
men who came last year and tried to kiU us all, when
poor Antome hid so long in the cowshed. But they have
gone out of sight. I can see them no more. Let me go'"
At this moment the touch of Catinat must have
tightened either in actual grip or in electric tension on
the back of the boy's neck, for he squeaked like a mouse.
1 wiU look— I wiU speak true. I wiU look aU the
ar
200
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
in
rl }
I
way^from the MiUau road even to the reservoir of
-3^^"^:^Sa^^rsr-^h^
fmes standing and holding her haL"o her I'r a.t!!^t
hi/dWoysl?'""* "■""'"^'' "^-> -'*"
tim7Twfll'„f.f M^' ^"'r'' y°" »P«*k t^th this
say her hl^ ^„ T °^- ^°" ^ ""^ «« «'"««. you
w' „! , ?" '''««st-no French officer with
her, no gang of wolves ? Good boy, good boyT"
But I saw these other two • ves I ««w tL
.f you birch me for it I saw the;7a4T ''"■' ^^^''
she lilje t" ' *'""™^' ^"S^'y. " what was
inteXttL"' """^ ''™«'"^'' *''« "^^ ■«"<' - the
.oiraVa^^eirniei'-^r^^rif:
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORISJ. 201
slightest blow with it across his cheek, so light that
many a caress had been heavier.
" T^^ pain of that will teach you ever after to speak
respectfully to those who are my guests in my house."
thVbh.chT'^^ ^* " ^* ''^^'*'' '^°^' '^ "°*' ^°''^ *^^°
" Oh. it does, it does ! " wailed the boy. " It was
a fearful blow. Oh, my head, mv head ! "
Maurice would have stepped forward to save the boy,
even with the evidence of his senses that a feather might
have dealt a harder blow. Rut the mere suggestion was
enough for the super-exci.cd state of the boy's mind.
Go on ! said Catinat, sternly. " we have no time
to wait all night on you ! "
The boy continued, between suppressed sobs of
dismay and pain.
"I see only the white waste-I cannot see the girl-
neither the one with the hand to her breast who waited
and looked round— nor the other ! "
" There was no other," said Catinat, firmly-" nor
any wolves ! " 'J ""^
wiiL^'^^.^f ' *^''''" '^^ *^^ ^°y' ™cing away
with his feather-smitten cheek ; " she was no! there^
I will .\ l^^* \ ^'" "^^ ^^** I ^^ ^ think, and
IwiUthinkit. Are you not my master ? "
8.P !n!i .i'^.'"^ ^*^'''^*' '^^^'^^y' " ^^ °i« what you
see, and that exactly. Look further afield. You have
w^ ^ir'"- T^7 ^^^^ '""'^ '"^ ^*^^t direction she
was moving. Look again— or "
SQueak; ^'t"' \''^" ^^^^^° ^^*^ '^' mouse-like
Sn\ ^. T ^r ^°W-Plainly I see her. She is
withm the circle of the Rochers above the Dourbie
r ar where the Saint Veran cradle is set up. She t
sitting on a rock and looking at a star. She s
rubbing her hands. I think she is very cold "
mm;/k ::^i^m^z^g^^sM
c^^os
r'i
202
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
anxioX''^' ' ''"'' '"'"* ''"'" ^"' ^'^^^«'
The natural turned his head uncertainly, as if
nquinng from his master whether he was ^r;q^red
Xstron?\7 'kT'"\'^^ P°^"^^^ discomposing
questions, but before he had time to reply/ BiUy
M^rshaU came in with Maurice's cloak Tcfoss hi^
;; Where did you get that ? » cried his master.
accent on ft ^' '''^^ f '^'°°^ ^°^ contemptuous
accent on the pronoun, "left it lying on the ground
that she ight run frae ye the faster' Did I to teU
fhorn oh ""v "'"^ V "" "^^ '^' ^"^P -^' *he black-
the differ ! And they are that thankfu' for it the
neist morn n' ! Certes, an' fond o' ye_ye wadna
mt:::o' h^'^^t^^* ^^^^ ^^^^^ bee/awf to bt:
wrtt 1 ^'''^*' '^'' '^'" ^ «^^^ ^^^ ti^e bit cioot
^ipt ^ .^^ ^^r P""^°' ^^^ *° ^er bed. The
bnnn.r ^ ^, ??'^ '""^ ^ *^« ^^«* ' Sleep-ye-soond-
haJ^ Anr' '^u* ^u' ^'" S^* ^^ °^y apothecary's
kini ;^°^ '^^y^^ bawbee to pay for 't! Quid kens, it
kma o mak's them wonderfu' set on ye the neist
rrwi'T'^B fti -^^- — -d gL that:;?s
a by wi ! Bet there could fair hae etten me she
was ^at pleased-like wi' me I But ye wala tak
puir BiUys advice. Na. he kenned nocht aboot wee-
men, an sae it's come to this ! "
.Z ^w" ^^^ ^^ '°*'^'"' "*^"^y' " t^ke the cloak,
and what arms are needful and follow with me to the
place where the waggons were captured "
^.„ ^^"^^'' ®*y^ ^^' '*"*ms an' a cloak' quo'
forf D'^'r^'. r^^* ^° ^^ *^^' BiUy Marslall
ower the door m siccan an unhamely place without
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 203
bringing a' the aims that are committed to him—
keepit as they should be keepit-and wi' the poother
an baU for ilka yin, a' in pooches by their nain«els « "
And at the word the gipsy undid his belt and showed
a perfect armament of pistols and short swords— or
hangers as they were then called.
"Bet's oot there wi' the muckle guns and the
braidswords ! " he added.
" How do you know that ? " demanded Maurice,
quickly. '
Billy looked at him shrewdly, yet a trifle sadly,
as one who had failed to profit by the opportunities of
acquiring inf- nation when these were tendered to him.
Hoo do I ken ?-Weel, I juist ken. that's a' !
And ye shaU prove my words for yoursel', Maister
Maurice (I canna aye be mind-mindin' your ither
n ime), and gin ye had ta'en my advice and ' knappit '
your bit wench in time, she wad hae been lying prood
and snug ayont ye at this meenit, instead o' freezin'
to daith oot on the wild hills ! "
A/r " ^^°^^. r"^ accursed tongue, will you ? " cried
Maurice, infuriated ; " come and help us to look "
^^ Dress yourself properly, then," answered Billy •
an do your cloak upon you. The habit you wear
IS troz».n stiff and is only summer thick at any rate ' »
A dish of cold water was standing on a little dripping
board, at which some former married tenant of Catinat's
house had washed dishes. Catinat seized this and
dashed the contents fair in the face of the seer. The
woo ly-headed boy came to himself with a start, and
would have dropped the crystal had not the Prophet
snatched it out of his lax and feeble hands, and
restored it to a bag of faded black velvet, througii
the unclosed seams of which it peeped with jewel-like
brilliance of suggestion.
?^5iS?
I{,
CHAPTER XXI.
Madame la Mar^chale.
If? /^"''.T^'"*^-^^™ ^^^ **"* "P0° the waste
she had no Idea of what she would do, save to put
f\o,T"t u'lTl ^' P°''^^^^ ^^*^^«« herself and
those who had (in her opinion) wronged her
Maurice she held dbubly guilty. For though he
was by no means her lover, she had, at least, expected
other things from him. And now, she had found him-
well, she could not picture to herself how she had found
him for the pain in her heart. Besides, had he not
Sh«T^ k"" T^.f .^ ^^ "^"^'^^g her oflF literally?
She had been held m his arms at the very moment
when she came to herself. And as for Yvette Foy,
how could any girl be so false, so wicked ? Had she
not time and again declared that this Pierre the
waggoner, this young man who had brought the
message to the village, was a traitor double-dyed ? And
had she not ? Again there came the shooting pain-
the burning, uprising shame! Oh! were there no
true folk at all m the world, women or men ? Excent
her father, that is ? She did not doubt him ever ^
Anf.^ Tl her hands upon each other even as
Antoine had seen her in the crystal stone, and they
were as cold as ice. Then, all at once, there came upon
Flower-o'-the-Corn a wild unreasoning fear Jhe
terror of pursuit. She seemed to be foUowed by a pack
•w>^m-
,.'.i?n.>%
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 205
of hounds as in the grey fearful dream-sleeps of the
Indian Bhang-eater. She could hear their yelping
chorus, now higher and now lower, as one or other
took up the leadership.
She turned abruptly, and ran on. Perhaps it rras
well she did so. At least, the action kept her from
freezmg to death. She continued thus till the breath
was almost out of her body. Before her, under the
pulsmg green glow of the Aurora, the toothed edges of
the volcanic crater stood up. She paused, less because
she was out of breath than because she seemed to have
some dim sort of previous knowledge of the place, to
which, all unwitting, her feet had carried her.
Once she heard a crying as of wolves across the
waste, the long-drawn sneering howl which (once
heard) is never forgotten. Anything less like the
" giving tongue " of a pack cannot weU be imagined
But to Frarses WeUwood, who had that night
supped so fuU of terrors, this brought no new anxiety,
though the sound would have sent every Caussenard
for shelter to the nearest house, even if it had been that
of his worst enemy.
But Flower-o'-the-Com stood there, only conscious
of the deadly insult and shame that had been put upon
her. The bitter upland night, the frost-tingling stars
the howl of the wolf-pack— these were as nothing to
the pain in her heart.
The two in whom she had been learning to trust-
one of them almost in spite of herself— had betrayed
her. Her house of cards had fallen. She could never
trust man or woman again. And then the words, foul
and horrible, spoken before all these men, with v/hich
she had been pursued from her own door! Was it true
what the beldame had said that her father had gone
witliout paying his rent « Why this added insult ?
206
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Yet she knew the thing might very well be, from sheer
iZel"'""^ '"' ^^^"^' ^^^"-«^'« ^-iituaT car"
But Yvette Foy (that thrice-wicked deceiver) had
«poken so kindly that she had accompanied her w"'
out even a.kmg a question. Perhaps (who knmvs)
the hmt to re use admission had come first from her ^
So m the bitter chill of the night Frances WellwooH
u7Kirb\'H^ ^°°r ^^^'^ ^' thrciu^srse
up black all about her, and the great limestone shapes
began to resemble old stumps of teeth blanching
skeleton gums. Thus she was sitting, growing slowlv
chill and chiller, when aU at once sh! wlsXftled by
the sound of uproarious mirth about her ^
A sudden Hashing of lanterns, a sudden explosion
of laughter, neither very wise nor very kincSy brou^
the girl to herself. Rough hands seized her She
cried out, and the first words she spoke were a conf es-
sion of weakness. >.oure8
"Maurice, Maurice!" she said involuntarily. And
then at the mere sound of her voice she started lo re^i
the gay brightness of the Brabant corn and herself
standmg elbow deep in it, with the young soldier blush
mgbenea., her, his hands parting "the yellow broom
A pretty maid, eh, .Joseph ? By my faith ves "
cried one rough-looking soldier with^great bandSs
across his breast ; " teU me that you do not beUeveTn
be better olf if we were farmers-general. The Mar^chal
himself, with his Madame la Mar^ohale, wiU Uve no
more comfortably than we! Besides which, wlwu"
not give the wench marching leave quite so often I
am m command of this party, eh, Joseph ? And I
FLOWER.O».THE-CORN. 207
v.l\ ^2' °^^ ''"^*'^^ «°** •' " °"«d another. " see, the
Utile thing 18 a-eold. Do you not understand, you are
a brute to stand there, cloaked to the grey moustache
and never offer her an inch of shelter ? She shaU come
not an mch nearer you, but to the kindest of the
company. Here, my pretty one. is a good half of a
soldier 8 cloak to be comfortable in. Aye, many a
pretty lass many a dainty, hath snuggled down
there, and hked very weU that same old Branden-
burg redmgote. Come, my pretty, so ' "
I V *^? ^S!" ''°'" ''''^^^ ^"^^^^^'' i^olding up his
lantern to Flower-o'-the-Corn's frightened face (for
now she had faUen among the wolves indeed), " neither
one of you has the least claim. E'en let the maid choose
for herself. I outrank you both, for the matter of that
since I carry the colours I You have nothing but
huge old grey moustaches, an odour of rum, and much
talk of what you have done in your youth. As if that
had any weight with a young thing fit to be the grand-
daughter of any of you ! For shame, to fright a child
so with your rough talk. Come hither to me, my dear
oT tC ?h^} "f *''' '^''' • ' P---Vou none
of them shaU harm you. And you shaU have no
troublesome questions to answer either— such as * How
came you at night out upon the wild Causses'near a
Camisard haunt of rebels and traitors ? ' I can save you
from aU that. Why ehe should I be trusted withZ
banner by my officer, but that it should cover an bosom
as innocent is thine ! " ""oum
"Stand out of the way, Victor Cayet," cried yet
and hfs\t^^^^^^ shouldering the epeaker, his lantern
and his folded banner out of the way. " 1 tell you here
comes La Marechale herself 1 And it is as muc'L as o"r
hea^^ are worth to have any rough jesting in her pre-
_»i^"%
1
J i
208
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
" Hush, lads, here she comes ! "
♦ * ♦ ♦ •
"Wretches, assassins, I will have aU of you handed
by the Provost Marshal," cried a richly dSed lady
ndmg m among them upon a white'^horse with a
liberal use of whip and spur.
tonl'^Vif?- u"^^'" '"^^ °°^' ^'^ * ^""ible whining
sl'of th 'l^^ r ^'"^ ^°^ ^°" «^°"ld *---t poof
.V, "."^J^'/^'^y J " ^'"ed the lady ; " and so weU does
the lady know you that she could wager the lalt W
d or m her pouch that you talked very differenthr
five mmutes ago to the poor girl there, whom you hold
your prisoner. Stand away^I would speak toTer ! "
Your ladyship wiU allow that she is our prisoner
of war. and stands at her perU amongst us, till a sum
IS paid m ransom to us poor men ! "
" I WiU see that the money is paid. I know you
Joseph, and also that the Marechal hath never gotten
any good of you or the like of you ! » ^
" Indeed, my lady, I speak not for myself » said
the man. "but as CWly here, the standrd-carrfer
well remarks, what is the wench doing so near to a
noted rebel haunt— alone and on foot ? "
" If it comes to that, what am I doing « " said tfiA
other, boldly. "Have vou anythi^ to'^^fleTt l^^:
The men pushed each other with the elbow, and at
nOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 209
gain, ijy this she will remember. I havft a l«„
flag of the King, I wm ta I ti J""*' "'"^'"S *>>»
^^^.^^--thToa^t^^hi^grs
orild^the'Tady Thl'lf h""*. "*™'y "' ^o" <='«='' ! "
" WhUe you 4TL i, ^'f"""*"! by this time.
COM uighj t-o ^^in'lZ'X ^Z^'^\Z^ »
have 'another aTMiir""i wXT: "'°'"'- '^^
swa^ering about with it ItZ.^'' ""* •"- ^"^
silk ? " ^ '""S. lined with a crimson
"Rem^kedyou-yea-who would noti" cried the
.r V P; "?'' ^Polten of it to the Marshal ton "
wouidT/"^''^f "^p '' *°° ''''«'■" aaid S;*"".;,
m;thono:l;\ii:il^f ^ -"«" ^P-<' 'tt-your
blil^t' ti^'ed'lld'e'' "^ 1" " '°'"'') ""* " torse
shivering g^ta "u fof tT. .f,°^"''"8 '° ^"P "»e
And nowiav°'ur ?*«*"" T °' '^ese Causses.
leave us. I would speak fco her a moment
fear,
M
210
PLOWER-0*-THE-C?ORN.
I
ri!
in
♦»
"Have we your lady's word for the ransom t
put in Josei V , who was stUl Bpitef ul at his discomfiture.
" Word, what need ycu of words ? " flashed Madame
la Mar^ohale, to the full as brusquely ; " go, take your
arms and retire behind the rocks yonder for a quarter
of an hour. We are not birds of the air that we can
fly. Take your posts all about us, if you will I
will give no word. Who am I, that I should baiidy
words at this time of the day with such cattle m
you ? "
" Well, a prisoner of war is a prisoner of war in
these days, so be she is pretty and young," said Joseph
bitterly; "also seeing that our Mar^chal is what
he is."
The lady stamped her foot.
"For the last time, I tell you, go back! Other-
wise I wiU complain to the Mar6chal— in which case
more would embrace the whipping-post at MiUau than
would miss their chances of this fair prisoner of war.
Once for all, I tell you— go ! "
The men, especiaUy those of Joseph's faction with
drew grumbling, but not daring openly to disobey the
Marechal's lady.
"At all events, I wiU make sure of her beast, and
the other hath none," said Joseph, shrewdly, leading
It away and leaving the Lady Mar^chale in her ridine
habit and furs to speak with the shivering girl, who was
by this time wrapped in Cornely's cloak. That orna-
ment of the King's irregular forces was now eacerlv
watching from behind a jagged tooth of limestone
what should be the fate of his second best garment
For, as he put it to aU honest and fair-minded
men, it was manifestly impossible to wear a thing of
beauty like the blue-clothed, scarlet-lined promenade
cloak on such mad midnight rides as their leaders
D.
le
ir
tr
n
I
1
s
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
211
wUd ^™i«Xr "' "'• '-'o «>. n..d.e of the
and-l" ' "*' "' '""osdroppen and thieve,,
ut whotovcr else the spirited ladv K»rf .
where I am on th^ MoJx k i. " "^® Causses,
debt, but son/e ,H rstretriL'^r '''^' ""^ ^^^ *^-
which, as I see i L aui^« 1 ^ ^^^ "'"'' *' ^'^"'-
already ! " ' ' ^"'*" ^^'^^ ^°«"g»» a»d ugly enough
The two women were left alone
iwadame la Mardchale ouicklv fh,
great fur-lined hood which had h HH T /''^^ "^«
undid a cloak (of wht^halg ttn o^ h"\ '^
she appeared to wear an infinf^? »een ©„ horseback,
it about Frances TT,.n f 'J"'"*'^''^ ^^^^ threw
aye, how they musV ev^ f I"*" '""^y 'o™-
kind to those IhrwiJreri"' "P"''" *° '«'
give me, dearest FranTj t L ''"''''"""• ^°'-
to save you from these b?d men*™ "°"' °"" '"«'«
gretfa^otae^Jdmt'UTrT^ "'^" ^ ""■
Aud Flower^-.th"Sm 'i a misr„f° """^ '
pressed both her hands to Ch a"»;4'."?^r^^-
1 5
212
FLOW'ER-O'-THE-CORN.
<
' '-1 i
I:', I
Ml i
God ! I am going out of m^r mind. Let me die
quickly ! "
" Tut— nonsense ! Nothing of the sort," said
Yvette, who was always practical-minded in all circum-
stances, " you will live to be a grandmother yet— aye,
and be glad of the little experience I am giving you
wherewithal to help your granddaughters out of
scrapes. Now listen to me ! Forget what you have
seen, or believe that I did it wholly for your good ! "
" That I caiA never do ! " said Frances, speaking
more frigidly -en than the cold that was stiffening
her through her wrappings of fur and horse-blankets.
Yvette kept her arms tightly about the gu-l, in spite
of the fact that her friend remained as unresponsive
as a doll carved out of wood.
" But I think I can show you cause why you should
think less ill of me," she said, gently, like one who
suffsrs wrongs she cannot help.
" That can you never, if you were to talk till Dooms-
day ! I have found you out, Yvette Foy," responded
Flower-o'-the-Corn, with accentuated bitterness.
" No, I am with you," said the other, clasping her
yet tighter. " If I were only Yvette Foy, the inn-
keeper's daughter, you would be right not to forgive
me. But — I trust you with the secret — my life is in
it, and the lives of far more and far worthier than I.
Yet I trust you— I, poor Yvette, have a right to be
called Madame la Marechale de Montrevel, even as you
heard them name me just now ! "
" It is only one more of your deceits— there is no end
o them. I have good reason to know that ! " re-
torted Frances, not yielding the least from her attitude
of stiffened disdain.
"Nay, but not this time," pleaded Yvette. "It
has been necessary; I allow you have good reason
■M"A.-
^'i^.^i^^y^
. ■iSi-;!S<7vV:y
>%
i
?•
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 213
stances, rather than any lack of keeping faith T
manding the French troops in these n . antain. Yo^
who have such high ideals of duty a -d "^ect^or Z\
veiy night, and the despatch would have ton? to ™v
cadets of the Cross who are now watching us-for
they guard you as a valuable prisoner of warl^re out
on the face of the Gausses to support the rlkr
soldiers sent by my husband to meet me It ?, in
order that I might carry to de Montreal Xt I know
that I am here. Do you not see ? Wherefore elle'
should a woman like me remain alone in a pettv
^age, Ixstemng to psalms chanted night and mor^l^e
the howhng of dogs with their nosers pointed Stt
dutl 1^ ! ^'f Judgment. What but my wifely
duty would have kept me there « " ^
Mower-o'-the-Com was looking at her with great
wide-open eyes. Blue eyes open wider and Zw more
surprise than any others.
" But he was kissing you." she objected, " and-and
—you were letting him ! "
f h '7°" ^Tu- "^^^^ «i°^Pleton." laughed Yvette. " whv
tha. IS nothing ! I will teU de Montrevel of it ^J
" Tnen I do not think it at all a nice game." said
&^^:-:.^^'
;'l
:iMrt
r i-
iit\
214
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Flowor-o'-the-Corn. « If you did really love him, of
course, that might make a difference."
" Of course you think so, dear innocent," said Yvette,
gaily, " but women of the world have other standards!
And now— well, we have wasted time enough on this
matter. It is foUy, anyway. All kissing is, unless you
gam something by it ! The main thing is that you are
a prisoner of war, and that your father will have to
pay three or four thousand pounds for his daughter's
liberation, or "
" Or what ? " cried Frances, with her blue eyes yet
wider open. " My poor old father never had three
thousand pence to bless himself with— what is the
other alternative ? "
" WeU," said Yvette, slowly, " you are a young girl
and I am a married woman, but to be honest with you
I cannot put the alternative -nto words. Unless you
have heard in the village of La Cavalerie what these
Cadets oi the Cross are in the habit of doing to Pro-
testant maidens who faU in their way, I cannot brinor
myself to tell you ! "
'* I— have— heard ! " said Frances, slowly, the
blood rushing to her cheeks and then slowly fadinc^
away. "^ ®
" Well," said Yvette, taking her advantage, " these
men will do you all you have heard and worse— things
mconceivable— not to be spoken of. For these are
no regular soldiers, but Cadets of the Cross— to-niglit
on a foray, and to-morrow in the slums of a town or in
some beggar's den. Otherwise, they would not have
dared to speak to me as they did— otherwise they would
not now be waiting about us hke greedy wolves around
the innocent lamb ! "
" And what shaU I do ? TeU me what I must do ' "
moaned Frances, her head stiU on her hands. '*I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
215
«
have pistols. ShaU I kill myself
long enough-
Or — or — if we wait
She did not finish her sentence.
"If we wait long enough, what then ? » said Yvette,
suddenly grown icy in her turn.
" Well, he~he might come to seek me ! '*
Yvette Foy moved a little further from her
victim.
" I thought better of you than that 1 " she said
severely ; " mt/ excuse that I did that which I did at
the bidding of my husband, does not apply to him.
That which he did, he did to deceive you— behind your
back-out of the prompting of his own evil heart.
That IS, if he ever had any love for you, which he denied
tome. Besides, it does not matter. It wiU not do for
us to be found here together. If your friend were to
arrive now there would be a fight. Do you think that
those wolves out yonder would give up their prey with-
out a try for it ? No, surely ! WeU, they might wm,
or— he might win. But neither alternative would serve
my purpose. I mean when my work is done down
below, to go back to La Cavalerie. I mean to be
nothmg more than Yvette Foy, the innkeeper's
daughter, till this nest of rebels against the King's
authority is rooted out. Why need I conceal it ? I
wish to be back again, because Jean Cavalier is there.
And what is more, I want the ground clear. You
have been in my way. Yes, in my way. And
yet I love you, as I shaU presently prove. I might
have gotten aU the information that I wish from—
from this young aide of my Lord Marlborough's long
ago — had it not been for you."
She paused to let her words sink in.
'•Well, here is a way to be rid of me— once and for
aU, cried Flower-o'-the-Corn, fiercely and suddenly.
i"i5^-« '^^msa^tK '""- -•s^mps»Mm^sa^s».
'i
216
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORX.
She puUed a pistol from her pocket and cocked it.
ivette snatched it away.
" It would serve me but little to have the guilt of
innocent blood on my conscience," she said. " You
forget-I am a Catholic, and must go to confession.
No. no-I have thought of a way. We wiU cheat
them all yet ! "
.^^,
-^WOi:^
CHAPTER XXII.
The Cradle of Saint Veran.
" Madame la Mar^chale ! Madame la Marechale ! "
cried a voice from over the desolate fangs of the
Gausses, crumbling with frost, and weirdly blanched
m the starlisjht.
" Aye, Joseph, what is it ? " she replied, in quite
another voice than she had been using to Frances.
" We must be going to our homes before daybreak.
It comes m an hour or so, and we want our prisoner.
Our night will be whoUy blank without. We know
her for a Protestant and the daughter of a preacher.
We will have her served as such ! "
•♦Besides which," chimbed in another voice,
Comely here wants his horse-blanket."
There was the noise of a scuffle at that, under cover
of which Yvette stood up on the ridge, so near that
she could talk freely to the men.
" If it is a matter of ransom," she said, kindly, " I
take It on myself that the iMarechal de Montrevel wiU
pay any reasonable sum ! I myself "
" It is not a matter of ransom, Madame," answered
the man who had been called Joseph, fiercely : *' we
have taken it on us to humble these dogs and sons of
dogs, these Huguenot barbels/ Have we not per-
mission to use the Torture-aye, authority from
218
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
^L^dl^7"^' ^T^^ ^^^' ^^ whom you are
pleased to caU your husband." ^
laith of a woman, if my husband " ^
%he a Pr'jf'f '1' '""^^"^ "^^^P*^' contemptuously
sue a Protestant, can be no man's honest wife iZf
France f °' \''"^'^^ °^ *^« ^^^ CaTo J King"
France from whom we hold our orders. Praise bf to
M l^A^^^' ^" ^^" '^^^ ^^P^"^^'^^ on MoSur the
Marshal de Montrevel-no, nor on any of his^»
Hush there!" interrupted another voice^
Oomely's probably. voice—
* 1^^^' ** *°^ '**®'" continued Joseph, " his ladi«fl
of the Protestant connection-be done with your tat^
and plottmgs ! Madame la Mar^chale weTi not
touch. She has been made sacred by the baton oTa
Marsha!. But mark me weU, as sure as my name
la Joseph Peyrat, we wiU come for our prisonerl^
five minutes. And then willy-nilly, Madame S
Batonm^re we Cadets of the Cross will put '^
friend to the high, the low, and the middle ^quesC
And so It may faU out to aU pretty wenches of the ■
Barbet persuasion ! " ^®
" Yes, yes," chimed in some of the others : " do we
not wear the white band in double across our breasts
m token that we are of the King's party-the auTance
of true believers ? We Cadets of the Cross will make
another day of Holy Saint Bartholomew, eh, lads «
And as for the Mar^chal de Montrevel, he who wears
no scarf and „jakes war with gloves of kid, who knows
on which side he is ? "
Already there was a glimmer of red m the oast away
over the dark mural escarpment of the Causse Noir
''m.~ it-"-.-
?i3B
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 219
It might have been only the complement of the flaminc
green sword of the aurora that smote and wav^ ed
ZZTll T'"^' ^"' *'^ "^"'"^ -' '^^ n^ht
warned the two women that the time was short
Lrures°"^ ^ ^^ '""^"^ ''^^ ^'' ""' ''^'^ «*t^r'«
vet* ^ cTZFft^ J^"**" ' " ™*' ^ ^^ ^^^^ them
yet. Cadets of the Cross, are they ? They wiU make
a new Saint Bartholomew's Day, will they « Well
well, an' it please them, they will have a well-known
victim to try their blades upon. Let us see if thev
will dare to kill ME ! " ^
The two girls had been standing aU the while almost
under the shadow of the huge mast which had been
erected as a support for the carrier-cradle to convev
messages and packages to Saint Vt -an on the opposite
verge of the valley of the Dourbie. Thick cable!
stretched away downwards in the darkness in a grand
curve. Ther« was a little drag rope underneath
which served the twofold office of summoning the
watcher opposite and of fastening the parcel i^ the
traveUing-cradle.
" Here we have it." said Yvette, " this wiU suit aU
purposes You can await your father's return just
as well at Saint Veran, which is a Camisard town, and
would give its last Genevan psalter for a real pastor's
daughter. You will be out of my way there. There
IS some risk of course. But you have heard very
plainly that I shaU not be able to save you here I
pray you get into the cradle. By the Lord-I mean
by the Holy Vu-gin of St. Enemie, I would that I had
your chances. Ix I could save you otherways, I
declare I would try this road to heaven myself. It
IS as near as Yvette Foy is ever likely to find herself !
Oet in, Frances.'*
fK^v-"<?^ri:^-i-i i
'■^AS'.^^^Wf-
220
'I '■
■
PLOWEE-O'-THE-CORN.
Yv^^^^.";Lk!""°"«"^ '"«■"*"«»■ ''-■'(r about
Gel 1% Z'oZ:i^i ,:/„f ^^"' '°'" ">"•
"Oil T I "^ ™® swing you off "
Nonsense, nonsense chiM " 1 V i-^*
loud harsh voice, " do ^ I MH "^^ ^^^*^' ^'^ »
There!" ^o as I bid you. Are you ready ?
w^irrdi^s;!^^^^^^ i *^« -p^^ which
the ravine, and thenTf ^. T *^^ ^**^«' «de of
Flower-o^tL-^bX^^^"^ "^^'^ *'^ °°'^ *»>°"*
■"ow it will not trail R-.-.. . >. ,
wiclter-basket began 1 ™^ ^ ' I *" ""i^' «« t>>e
«nd then sUd ^th i„t °'"'' '"""'"■""'ly at first,
great dope. "»"««««« smoothness down the
a wifTuden wrth w"!'' " Tf ""^ »P "^
Yvette Idssed moweZ\F^^\''^T^' «> that as
could not see. the ^ n^t^"" *« ?''• though she '
Jvette sto;Ki atlr^wa^^Crh*^'"""'-
">d sag of the cradle tiU shri^^^hl*",'?* '""y
the great marled escarpment Tt^^J' " *«'''°»'
which stands the little^™"^, Sai^-V "^ "^"'^ '"'
by the most wondron. „ • ' ^*''"'> *° "Wch.
world, Flower "°°^r°"™«« ."'<'" «'«»* in the
The Cadets of tht aL """I? '"'""y '»'""'•
intentness at the pUc^Xr^ ^ ''*'"8 ^* ^oh
ing to Madame uZ^^u ?*" P™°»«' was talk-
basket of wiow!work^^t'^;*^«' tb« swaying
or three times about t 't^ "P'.'""^^ "">
their heads before it wlnoti-T" """"'''^'y "^^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
221
Fire, there-fire ! Throw a hand-Krenade R„n
back and out th , ropo, ! " he shou J.*^ ^'„o„*""
md f"\T„ "^^ '""'y »'»« valuable pfunder
Did I not tell you both of them were barbeta-Sl
" trying to jew us out of our hones du^j All fh.
u'l 1 1^'^' "'"' i° • ten-setta. 'tf morent
DO safe m theu' accureed Saint Veran ! But you-
WeT H j;"' ^^^ y '"'™«' "■«» yo »« ^here you
nave landed yourselves ! " "^
on'Sfe^h!!."' •i"' ^"" 1" *" '"«e"'« Wont'y
on the Catholic side was caUed) wore as their bad™
a oro^ band of white linen upon their breasts and
their own chroniclers report, it would seem as uZ
savages with tomahawk and scalping knife ever
equaUed the atrocities which these fiends rri^teed to
of the highest powers of Church and State
But there was by the nature of the bond-which
was solely one of plunder and revenge-liule disciXe
among them. So that, though Joiph byZt^^l
supenonty m cruelty, had assumed a certato comm<md
among them, there were others, as Comely, whTtTre
of aUn<»t equal standing. At all eventa no vle^
was fired at Flower-o'-the-Com's cradle as she sw^
out across the deep gulf towards the to™ o7^
Veran a mere purple blur in the distance when she
started, now growmg full of windows and white walk
all crowded with watching people ^"
A "ll'S*" ^^^ *^' ^^'^- ^ •"<• »«™ral others.
A hand grenade was thrown, not unskilfully, for it
struck the movii^g basket, cau,ii,g it to sway kali
ously. For at that date aerial conveyances wereSy
-''Ajmk'^gFA:^'!
'^^^?^^^^im^s^
222
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
things, and indeed it is r. it reoordeH .h.f .1, v
gained veiy greatly i„ ccrtZTZJ^'A^'':;
bacic to eartli, with a crv nf " w t' , " " '""
general mattering this wav and ^^^'^.f ' ""'' "
-ow aa hen, do ,^^^0^ ifr^
Pe^atJ^nT^^Jir^Ta^vr^^^^^^^^^
and earth, some of whieh wentTnto T^! T"^ °' '*''''
mouth, making his langul™', kl tWVr.rl
exeommunication done into the vernacutar TOe
,4ed t:^ rrreJrti^^rXh'- "-
hand. He would slay the eirl X f " '"^''
Barbeta should chouse hi^ J h- "" '""='"«^d
And as for the othor^rl h," '""^r "^'""'8'"
Marshal's wife nor Char^» ""^^ ^'-^^ for
.a^k^r:^ ir Tt^t;ea^tretTLr *^«
r,'0 and do it by himself. ''"*' ^® °^"«*
"And very soon will I finish that ! » he cnVrl of -^
«rst:5:^L;*r notTr-shriTa"??, -'
either hand-FWer-o'-the-^rn's pLtoL \C! '?
tTu^'a^r;? "'^':^'' ''"'P'^ "'t'edaw^a'btnl?:'
tell and determmed, her eyes deen ai. fh. fT T? '
l«ols at eventide, yet now gkamiTbrtw l?"""""
as^when the sun shines on a^sea frett^lte S
vol' "^f.,"""'^ TT' '■y o"' hatobreadth, any one of
r/^j'^^T?:
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
223
you do not fear the Mardchal-that you are nof «n^
hia orders. But. thank God f C«. • ""*^*"'
own dirty >^in JlZ:l:o'1UT^'^ " ""
would not be .oldier. more thkn "„« daT- M T"
break of the second the Provo«t Malal ^.d tte tZ
of the nearest convenient beech wouldTnish vour
service. But. come on—T ha^^ ^ "*" nnisn your
Alter that there was a rush Jo«»PT.h P«,r. ^ i. •
anns. Yvette stood erect, a UtZ:L^VZX
engaging itself from her pistol.
"Ah. here they come-the Maison Rouee » TV,,
uniform of the King's cuards f T^A* i^ ^®
wench alone ! » ^ ^ ^^**®' ^«*^« tte
Other guns went oflF irreeularlv An «ffi«^
the fi. .ifonn of the mSo„ d^„ ^^.TZ^Z:
Mar^pr^ch szuL:"^ "^"^"^ :
The Cadets of the Cross took to their heels in fC
brightening dawn. They had no wish ^ fhT '
mood of Madame the M^chale drM Jretj ^7?
the carpenter work of the Kinir's i^ihh^r ,*^'^
nearest beeoh-trees. So th^ rde^",^-;- "^^J^
V^^sSk" .
224
FLOWER.O*-THE-CORN.
II
I
out of sight in a few minutes. All save Joseph, that
w, who would never return an insolent answer to maid
or matron again. He lay on his face, his mouth fiUed
with the hard earth of the Causse, his white-banded
bonnet faUen oflf, and the bald pate of him lying
agamst the great mast of the traveUmg cradle which
had conveyed Flower-o'-the-Corn safely across to
ot. Veran.
"What is this ? What is this ? Speak-speak.
Mistress Foy ? " cried Maurice and Catinat together
The cloak of fur feU to the girl's feet. It lay about
her unregarded as she stood a moment sUent. But
not a quiver of the countenance discovered to the men
that Yvette had expected any other succours across
the waste than those which had arrived so opportunely
It was nothing." she said, and her voice was clear
and steady, " only I found the Cadets of the Cross
threatening with iU-usage Mistress Frances Wellwood
and I have sent her over the way to Saint Veran » It
was nothing to do ! "
"It is the act of a heroine! " said Maurice, pro-
foundly moved
" It is wortL^ of a Jael ! " said Catinat. " WeU
may we sing the song of Deborah, she who in an hour
became immortal as a worthy mother in Israel ! "
Then Catinat took both hands of the girl, the rich
mantle lying all unheeded at her feet.
^^ "For this also I ask your pardon," he said, solemnly:
I t<K)k you for one of the foolish ones, the lookere-
#it of windows upon passers-by, devisers of cunning
needlework of various colours-nay, even as the W
in-wait for the unwary. But now I see you are even
as Jael— as Abigail who saved her lord— even as
Ar^a the prophetess-as the great women of the
earth. I, Catinat the prophet, crave your pardon ! "
-3c""--ViS5»?
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
22«
"«« tut hK^to ZlLV' .''"'* '"' ">»
thought., did likewiw A^d h^?K^* '?'""•'• <" hi,
^"t;rt»rr.tr"^?r"'- --*
. discarded lover, h. ^.W^h^^^f '"•• ""'' fi-d
P^vided. I„ . -ingle mre*„tWt:''Fo''T!f ^^
aside her degree, had changed .ides fnr.1,^ had laid
had become again the .imlr '"'™,'°' the second time
of the Bon Chitln &?"«''•" <" «"«» Fo^
«gret crossed her counte^lr Sh"T'j". ', ""«» "'
men even as a modest m«den i L ^^ ''*'°" ""ese
the hearing of her own n™- *o ' '^°- ""■^"'^d by
Tk<U she cLd not oorpa« Tu't sh'^ "If ""^ "'»•'
to side as if they did Z Si> ™Lk . °°''°*' ''°'° «««
to change the subject, she tLr^\J°"°"' "'«'' " «
Maurice with her forcfi^er "^ "" '^ -^o™ of
" Whence came this Dret»„ *i,- . ..
archi,, lite a Child tharfinTfJ^^ -ed.
It does not become me to ask £«; if 1^ ' ^ '"PP°««
pilose so exceUently this time r » '""^^ °"'
Indeed," said Mauriofl u^u-
astonishment in the mSJut^/* ^^°»««lf in
ment of the stalJc anTXsUt ''?'.*^^ *'^^^*<'-
I know as little as yourserZLfit'on"^ ' "'°^^''
came to have it upon me ! " °'®*' ^'^ ^^^ I
Yvette smiled subtly
-^'^iT/'shtad^TiSt'lo"?""' "" «"« yo-S
the place is even yet ZSe t *T' " ^"^^
And they walk^ baT wtl ' f ''<"°* ' "
was not the home i„ wUch^:!?^.^:;* ^ ^^«'«™
"" - -- -%H nor terrc^:i.rr wIL'
16
l!:|t
:»
226
FLOWER.O*-THE-CORN.
to do her homage. Nevertheless, like a child that will
sleep anywhere, she accepted Catinat and Maurice
since no better might be, even complimenting the
latter on his uniform and how weU he looked in it
It becomes you better than anythmg I ever saw
^^!J 7T;" '^^ ^^'^' ^^'^ **»« "moment after she
added, ' And I think she would like it, too » »
m
ce,
ihe
he
CHAPTER XXIII.
Arples op Gold m Baskets op Silver.
Let it be set down as not the least of the virtues of
this remarkable girl that she recognised L a momenf
when her immediate plans had been dSeatTd /„]
without a murmur took up her old life ^at wlih^n
that the sacrifice meant to her. ^
Perhaps she was somewhat assisted in this bv th«
thought that Flower-o'-the-Com was safe on II
out ^one and backed down aU opposition tiU Wdear
fnend (or dearer enemy) was saMy taken out of ^
cradle on the other gide. She knew wlfw. T.t i,
pon«i by the twitchtag of the ro^^ Twetr ht^d"
raylbouTr^asf '"' ''''' ^'''^ extended'ev^'
.^h^f-ftrtrorrk^^^^^^^^^^
them that Flower-o'-the-Com seemed glad to be Ze
a fact m no wise surprismg oonsiderin| thell^te of
Wa.t m I lay hands on any of them. They call
228
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
themselves Cadets of the Cross." growled Catinat
grimly, "I, Abdias Maurel, wiU for the first time
reveal to them for what purpose a cross is constructed."
As Yvette had foretold, the townsfolk of Saint
Veran, Camisards to the core, and hotly in earnest
about the matter, rece ved Flower-o'-the-Com with
open arms. No one could do enough for her The
maidens ran for their mothers— their mothers for
cordials and bade blankets be heated before the
tires. There were feuds as to who should entertain her
only decided by the attitude of the entire young male
population of Saint Veran, which persisted in hanging
over her couch like devotees before a shrine, and vouch-
ing unanimously for the wiUingness of their parents to
receive her. So these wise people finally decided that
Flower-o -the-Com should await the coming of her
father (of whose sermons they had heard the fame) in
the house of a certain childless couple, Saint Ruth by
rf.?®V.,T^^ husband had been formerly mayor of the
httle hiU town, and he and his wife were exceeding
wiUmg to have the daughter of the famous pastor of
Geneva as their guest.
Here, then, we may leave Frances Wei wood safely
and restfuUy happed in the kindliness of these good
people. To the great Causse de Larzac we return
from whose verge Saint Veran is only a picturesque
purple outlme and a wreath of blowing wood smoke
Yvette was once more within the auberge of the
Bon Chretien, the fur robes done away in silver paper
while the other two (being men and having other mat-
ters more important to thmk about) never so much as
wondered where they came from. Such is the man Adam
Even outside Eden it is questionable if he would
have observed Eve's changes of costume, even though
(doubt it not) the lady had a fresh one every day
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 229
At La Cavalerio the old routine recommencprJ Ti,o
guards were shifted dulv Th. "'commenced. The
farther Afi«W qTii »/ ^' ^® trenches were dug
irmanv t I ^^ ^*""'" ^"°* *'^°«* h»« d"ty. cast?
ing many a glance across the deep gorge of the DnnrK.-I
E«h night h, walked to the great poat from which
Cvi . "^'^ ' *''*' *»> •'«<> •>« but known it
For the post remained unhewn, the ropes unourand
of thTn V ^ "'"■*■■ "onrayed across the trench
tress il ranees, caUed Flower-o'-the-Com
„„ir '" ^''**t' ^°y- •■" »«it»de towards Maurice was
quite changed. A kind of tender reprotch as a
deeds ought to speak louder for her than any words
cha«cter,sed her bearing-no more smau'^shte^;
cares or frequency of interviews, but rather .
the gulf of Samt Veran, guarded her about. In the
aT, as It were, for ever hovered the echoes of ihe harsh
^t madeTfc"";''^ "'" "' ^'—o'-the-Cor^' flight
FoyremeTte ".;".■ "-^^r'"'- ^^ 'PW* of Yvette
v.i .T «*erealwe her lovely body, and her
17J w,r''T^ "■« «•=' *e had done in savW
Frances WeUwood and facing the worst that thecIH
Cadets of the Cross could do" to her, added to t^atl
lil
^ - t'i-;"
230
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
comparable nobility of self-sacrifice the one touch of
the unexpected which it lacked.
ab^^ *^* ^""^^^ ^°^ "^^^^ ^""y °^»i°^« J She only
Whetbj^* ^^^^ '''' ^-°"«^* <^*^- *o P-
.y.tl^^^^f'"' ^^^"^ *"• ^ '^ ^^""^^ i* ™ a fine thing
she had done, so that she had every right to speak of
to be silent as it pleased her.
But as to the reason which had led her out upon
sSenceT"* '^^ "?.'*' """^'^ ^°^ ™ ^^^^^^ -^H
silence mvincible and complete
SDo^°t ^LTl^ t^^I u 1°?^" combination had been
spoilt, and the Mar^chal de Montrevel and his suite
t^JnrT r """'^ ^^ '^' ^'^"^^^^ ^ ^-« «afe for
uZSnJr r "^ ^r ' ^^^^^^ ^ ^'^^^^ Madame
U Mar6chaIe-who. m the simple guise of Yvette Foy.
was at that moment gently and uncomplainingly re
turmng towards La Cavalerie in time to chant^the
morning psalm of the Camisards.
iJA ^! ^^T^""*? °^ greatness in Yvette always
told her to make the best of the things which were
Bni^ M rjfV^ °°' '^^^ ^""^ ^**^** ^'^ the other.'
BJly MarshaU bringing up the rear, she offered a
strikmg picture of a Puritan maiden, going meekly
homew^ after some deed of noble self-immolation
which, bke that of Miriam, the sister of Moses, would
render her name famous for ever among her people.
-Che fur cloak over her arm did not matter She
never so much as referred to it once. A sweet and
singular modesty pervaded her every action Her
I^ WK ^^w""^"* ^^""^ P**^^'^^^ ^'^^ contentment
wuh the station m which Providence had placed her
Such was the attitude of Yvette Foy till the party
which had been sent to intercept the English shins
came home. Yet it is. indeed, more than Ukely that
%^-
iXOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 231
pec^ ^H?r ^4"*"«^ terd'-i
pointed out n«f -u ^, "' war—though, as Maurice
exp«tlt;;°L;^!°'^"'" "* '"^"- """^ "«<>
Appointed that the^X^sC ^^.tdt
tox.p.. n« do more than «d them to put the°tr^
o-^'S^'toTertirjS"^''' -^ ""'--
admirabkorderthatn^lS^^^r LrCh^
on and cj^ed out for thf^^'t^':'' ^° ^^f^^
not a word of praise or compliment did CavXrif»
r° :!'^<'^'"-8 "» 8ua^ about the"tmen»t'
ta^^l^h'^t^'^- — t*t ^:,s ?^
lying ZronlteJdT "'^°'* """'''''"' "~'^°
WrSPS-.- » "K^d-TJil
232
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
\i ih': mm
I'
. 1°°° ^**"'"^ Maurice found that there wa>
man u, the village of U Cavalerie. Part of this no
Hb soul was on the purple ridges of Saint Veran
^« expedition had achieved aU that he had ei
not been able to bring with them had been safdv
^'C:enrthe;n.rre^-i, -->. ;:„ - ^»
IvS.'"tt^»^h"°f i"*^ *" "^"^ **'» friendliness,
rrom the rough hard man of whom nothine had
been expected, most was now forthoomimr ^^
It was soon evident that Patrick Wellwood and
his young countryman Maurice Raith could^ w
conbnue to reside in comfort at La Cavaleri^ For:^
li r" . **«"• "" en' off with Saint Veian bv
l^f ^"''r "' *' ""^^ "^ «"« »°n-We sijr ^
And by this very misfortune the heart of the
^rothT "' ""' "^^ °' *"'' °" «- ow't:
f„nl T^.r*. 'f"« '*'°" "»""«« declared himself
SSled th!t >** «'»P'»^ <" ArdmiUan's regimen"
ha™^'.„^' I "^ "'"• *^''"8h less observant per-
haps than any human creature, and in many senses " of
a wandcrmg and diUtoiy eye." had more tC on^
tofr.™.Jr *^ '•"■ ""^ "'"»««> not to mention the
mformatmn and mterest in serious subjects which
Ulaunce Raith displayed to the pastor
_.?ll
-1 .
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 233
" i^d T L ?K ""^ business," said the you^ter
" T 1, "e™®°*' responded the other.
vveu, explained Maurice, boldlv " vn„ « u
not expect to hide h^r u„v,* /'oiaiy, you could
LaCavalerie TW • ^ """^^^ * ^'"^^^J' ^ven in
v^avaiene. There is no one so beautiful as she is • »
The old pastor looked straight at th« mln I *
hm. His " wandering eye » was 1 Jt "^^^^^^^^o^e
"May I inquire of you if vm! H ^ ^'"'"^^ °°^-
of these fancied to n^^^gte^^^^^^^^ any
Maurice smiled, the clear-hearted glad smuTof th«
man ready to count aU weU lost for fove "' *''
. ™°kly. she would not let me " he said "nfW
brow """' '*''"* '"'' '^^^l •"» hand upon hi.
hath not to the fuJ her mother's beauty " ' '
PatrWeCH^^ne'd a\t«et" '"'°'"-''7 "'^^
" Nn " Ko o ,1 f. "^® compassionate y.
of mi^; hav^ 1 '"'° *^""«^' «*^^ °°«' tt«^ eyes
or mme have never seen aught like her Yet Lr
mother was a fairer-yea. fair as Eve, the w'fe o^^d^^
m Paradise, ere the coming of the EWl One.''
-:k.._
284
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
firethr^rcT*?.*; ff a '''^^^'-'^ ^ the
ureiignc, sweet, dun, far-off happinesses.
m^l\ """ °? °°^ ^^« *^«'- Yet she chose
me— me, from among them all » "
So thus naturally things cleared themselves between
the two men, and after this both were gladder for Z
of good family m his own and. though like manv
another, sore reduced with the troubled o Sovenln^
silvrr^^^""'.^^ " *PP^" °^ «°*^ ^"^ th« basket of
nliZ'- ?f'.J°,^'' °P^°'°°' «°°d enough for any
Go ^l^'of J^^'/'^^^'r^ ^^ °®^^ ^' ---^' of the
GospBl^ of equal rank with that of a Commander.
So it is small wonder that the two men stood a
mome^n^at night holding each other's hanTer:
<, Jou"^ .^^^^ .^ y°"' '^•" «*-^d Maurice, simply
peaking through the grip of his hand m^re than
through his words.
rephed the mmister. adding the last word after a
pear:^tr^;wto^r ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ -^^ ^«
t
t^-.^
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Sweetness of Stolen Watees.
The situation in tlio High Cevennes could not how
Z^'h "^ T'T"- '^^ ^'^^^^ <»« Mont"!;
considered by the Court not to have made the bes °
h s opportun.ti«. nor to have pressed upon the folk
miniSon sZf 7't *'""'«'• ""dness'and de!:'.
mmation Some of h.s enemies were base enough
to suggest a private and domestic cause Cthi
s^^H T T" ^r °"'<"7 '■'' Court circles that he
should be replaced by Marshal Villa™ n, n,.
Duke of Berwick. viuars or the young
T.0^™ Tf°v!''"*' •" "" *°™ °' ^ Cavalerie the
position of the emissaries of the allies was rendered
far from comfortable. It was evident that <h?W
diate pressure of the French attack would come u"o^
La Cavalene and not on Saint Veran or the to™"
and villages farther to the sooth, because La UvSe
TmaZ't'^^ i"*?"" "P™ " *"« fortrfsland
Ultimate shelter of the rebels.
pJ^T^w if' ^J""" *' P°'«^^^« Maurice Raith and
rr.r. .^"rr^ ^^^^^^^ *° P^«« ^^^^oss the one
place to the other.
th^f Pi*^ not appear a difficult undertaking, seeing
tL t^n^T^'«■*^^? ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^y accotpushS
the transit. But, really, with the deep defile of the
Dourbie to transact, and the constant pass^e o the
i
236
FLOWKR-O'-THE-CORN.
^ys fflnce the return from the sea, Jean CavaUer
Had clouded over, and instead of droppinB in everv
affaire of the day with Patrick and Maurice he
^"vl'iZ ''°"'' '" *''°"«'' "" >«"> <•<- themlm:
pievoua wrong,_or. more e«ctly. as if he owed them
leader-one, too, which Maurice at W S o
oti: ' jlf 'c 'T**"^ *" understand an7appr^
oiate. Jean Cavalier was dafly spending more and
the^ftle"„'f°M *""" PT* *'' *» '"'Jy'' "Wms to
the title of Madame la Marichalo de Montrevel were
c^h^^tlicrH^^'fl'"'' ■'°' interfere wUhZ
«Te I^w^H ^ ^^ "^^ '"""^'on-^d to exercise
Yve^ t^Jn K* .".?PP'°P™'«^ Mademoiselle
ivette, the daughter of Martm Foy
iJiT^ ^ r"*."" ""^'^ ^^S P"»«°t «t <>»« of these
TrZZ' "?r,".':'" "' °»°'' ''O '"'™»» that, how!
ever lightly the lady's marital engagements sat upon
For an hour or more curtains of red baize had been
drawn across the high smaU-paned windowrof Z
Uvi^-room and parlour of the Bon Chritfen The
w^ fire burnt cheerfuUy. even gleefuUy-tte smaU
branches craokhng far up the wide chimney. ?Se
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 237
they spat rtLrt T "° ''**^'' ^ ^^^' «« "ow
Af Vi^ K *^® ^**"« were veritable bullets
At times It amounted almost to a pyrotechnic;
was^ ^::r^^^^^^ ''r^^^ ^^^'« ^^-k catXurt?L°
was dnven back with arched back and voUevs of
of angry counter-spitting voueys of
Foyt'Lr han'r^ "P-'" ' ""^^ ^'^^^^ '^^ Yvette
x-oys right hand, so disposed that it threw fKo
ofTTh'™'."^, f illumination upon the cl ar^urtes
of her beautiful face, upon the fuU red lips vet lef^^ «
Her father read steadily through a volume of rnW,-«'
ana the pyrotechnic ol ve-woo«i «««« ♦u /?
light whe^with to Make o:rrCS pit, ""
^ut a few words at a time served him Tn»,n Poi •
IS not at any time, nor by any catelo^^er. ^ beckt^
as a purveyor of light literature. And so Martin Fn^
reading slowly and meditating deeply upLhTsl^thor'
remamed all unconscious of the occadonal po^tral^^;
gaze of his daughter, who sat at her needlCrk w^f
an expression of sweet and resigned placidity uponTer
rLte^s^rr ^' f r^^ '^« oLsionKhLg
her flthlr f ^ '^'^^ '^^^ * ^"^^ scomfuUy upon
^IL of P', ""^ ""'^^ P^^^"^ consc-ence page after
page of Calvin upon "Salvation by Works"
In brief. i>listress Foy wanted her father to go out
238
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
It w&a within a few minutes of the time at which the
young chief of the Camisards was accustomed to
achieve his evening visitation of the Bon Chretien
*°wr- u ^°"°* '^°"*° ^*°*®^ ***® "^™ *o i^erself . '
Which 1=. the same thing as to say that she would
have It, as mdeed the event soon proved.
" Father » she said, suddenly, " I do not think that
It IS good for you to read by this imperfect light. It
would hurt younger eyes than yours. And, besides,
was not this the night that the Scottish gipsy proposed
ta remove the horses of his master ? For my part I
have yet to see the Egyptian who is to be trusted
with a horse. As weU turn a fox loose in the poultry-
l^^\ u^?"^"^ '^ °°* ^® *« ^®" *° go down and see to
It that he leaves all right in the stable ? '*
Martin Foy raised hhnself up with a sigh. He
had become absorbed in a remarkable page of the
Institutes, indurated and compacted like the olive
roots by whose light he was reading, and like them, too
capabL of throwing oflf a perfect volcano of sparks when
set alight m any theological assembly in the world
The mteraction of free grace and human endeavour
needs some thought even when expounded in half a
page of Jean Cauvin, and Martin Foy and his daughter
(had they but known it) were in perfect unanimity
as to the danger and foUy of good works and general
benevolence.
Most meekly, therefore. Martin Foy went down the
stone stairs of the Bon Chretien, and Yvette was left
alone. The great wide-stomached clock, with its
dragons, its gilt dolls, and impossible hunchbacked
caravels, aU sailing comfortably away together to the
shores of nothing, went on ticking no faster and no
slower. Whether the heart of Yvette Foy did the
same, who shall tell ?
^^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
23Q
th. dome,t,o o.t-whiohX4 ^' .h^- T^r
door, atopa to liok heriu.« „» !k "Hoood to the
that touohe. .toncoTe hlh^' T' """" »" '«'«™
the ba«,me„t of ^1^;^ « " °' g^'^o'-dnoas .nd
neM that >^ .^T th. ""^ ''"^*'"" '««"« »'»*-
la»p in her L^:^, ;UcC"'„;:^^»'j'*^
m«or, which was eloUd during ZdavhT'l?
leaves of light-toned wood. ^ "^^ "'°'''''»
Then with fingers which moved so ranidW «,.♦ .u
could «,arcely be foUowed, YVette IW k "f
arrange her toflette. The eriat Wk!i .7 ^^ *» '
became like livina fl,,-™ ^.f- °* "'"'* °' '«"• ha'r
her han^aid ^*'ri sKitfdT' "'""'^ »•»»'
snake-charmer. X^feU tit J°*" """^ "'™'"a'
Ttey writhed to Utnfaf ^ T"^'" *"«'•
gathe^d them«, "es nrtoHriso It i""' • ^^^
about her white forehead ^ ""^ "^'^^^
And as she proceeded a faint ,„a . •
that they are beautPnT «• ""^y wnen they know
Mauriceti. tley mo™ "nder" he c "'*"" f "^'^
Yvette only smfled A t„ . . "aressing hand.
expectedZ top^rr. ™ °' ""^"'^ '"""'l ^ave
draper" and T^ k J"f ""* * POwder-sheU out of a
fl
240
PLOWER-O'-THE-COKN.
r^lhr."^"";!!: ^ «"" " "he continued to
look the smUe became more than a comfoShi!
acquiewence in the scheme of thiZ \^^^ .
con^iou, power leaped into it X i^mrf^^'
^tenmg totheword, of .lover and todCpltel^
them. Yet it wa. only that ehe loved bZ^U^ZTj^
l.vmg thmg-ye, and thought herself more ^ZT
fid!?, ? °?"'' ? "«*" '°°' o- "«' »""'. 'he Xk con-
and having pLied uo h- "^ - "" "'^"'^ P"*""'
her«lf inl^olrJ-ThaThrSf^U ""^^
u^ae it should-ter profile'clt l^'^Vr^^
tured goddess upon an altar fream h.. P"
merged into a bathing bZm^\Zr"^ T''
bodice which moved v?th . • 8°'<'-«nd-white
plainness ot CTorZtj, Cll'^' Z""
shadow. It might have bee^th" p„^/", **" . ""?
or the single gown of Kin„ fVmh!?^ . ' P"™"*"
betore herV-flous eW^l'^rs^;^^" ""<*
to Jean Cavalier what she wore 1^.„ . ""^
he had come out to see but «Jh„, ,i Tf °' » «°"»
thc^e splendid eyes "tLtet^ W^^"Sr
m them, the droop and lift of herlS^^iT u"
pout of the proud mouth which vet (h. b , u ' *•■•
by would not be proud llto hto '1^""* i^-""*^"
I*e she. Yvette 4. had ^-olvJS" tot^e"i::t
was at once light and confident itTnewle^t *'"""'
engaging and also significant ^)^y"Z^'' "' O""'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
The smile on YvetfA t?« » i-
"P»«<fa to the^p J-j; .^Pf r"'" 'o 'P«««>
glowed. For, indwd f!f ^ . " "''"'"• Her eyeg
?othi«go„W ort;^^ fLTth^Sr. ""«' ""
«W«: Yrette met each one L it "i^^' ^-l™^*"
virginal. All was m » »„ iu „ ' "*" "•* Md
filing., hep «"o"„™ T "'\'^* «"«. her own
prolonged re^^t^ZTlntot Ir'fT " •""
campaign. *°*' ^'^o whole plan of
umt:mff '^""'' " ^- » ' " -he said. «,ftty ^j
had learned somethinr.tocen*""'?"*'"- «•
were UBuaUy good 4oC ^h " T '"'»• ^er
Foy tntoredf and learS S, I °* '"'°°' »«"™i
"Yvette. dearest ."te^MT", ""^•
moment in the doopwar .^ i. J^f'^' ""* "t"""! «
by the beauty of t^TSn tSfh 11 ,""* '"°"°'^"'
be approached with quick , In. iJ"'. ^y^' ^ben
The girl let her worS S\ ■ ""*" '««'<'« ber.
contentment. The bliZf W . f '"P '''"' " '^h of
out witha conscio^gw!^™ nT'"'^'°''~t''e
turned her face towLf Z *"' ""^y- Sho
"pon it. ""* *''* y°"n« man. a tender %ht
" do not. You iTno" t' T '^"'"' °' «''"»<'«.
eome in upon me suddenly niT .u . T y°" '*°»'<1 not
„ " I know. I W- h!^!ji'*':!.*~'"8''*'°« n,e."
Yvette,rememberThatIlo™ "^^ P«»*««»«y. "only
" So you say •• sh. 1. y^-y* are aU I have "
^an a fluttering g^tCJ^^; *^f '""• »«> -re
remember who you are-and-r-thattfratt
16
242
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
•I
if
of a poor girl like Yvette Foy is easily compromised
when great capta'ns come too often to visit them ! "
He smiled easily, with the pleasure of a man who is
touched on the spot where his soul lives.
Vanity was the frayed cord, the joint n the armour,
the loose link in the chain— anything which might
describe the danger and weakness of Jean Cavalier's
nature.
In excuse be it said that, as yet, he had scarcely
touched the age of twenty-one years, and that Yvette
Foy had in her time pkyed on the vanities of far older
and wiser men, as an artist upon an instrument of
strings.
At all events, now Jean Cavaher was as wax in her
hands. But as she had promised, she did her spiriting
with the daintiest hand — so delicate, indeed, that even
the young man did not know it. He entered the room
all unconscious that the final attack upon his loyalty
to his co-religionists was to be made that night.
He came in Pushed with the triumph of good news.
" At last," he said, " you and I have La Cavalerie
to ourselves. I saw them off safely across the Dourbie
an hour ago ! *'
Yvette put out her hands swiftly till they touched
the young man's shoulders, and then suddenly
dropped them as though a new thought had struck her.
" I would that I had known ! '* she said. Though
why, did not quite appear.
" Perchance after all you wished to say good-bye to
the young officer of my Lord Marlborough ? " said
Cavalier, jealous y
** Jester ! " cried Yvette, as if astonished : and then,
when he had repeated his words, she patted Mm on the
cheek and called him a sulky boy.
Then she rose up quickly, with the same action as
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
243
she had used when she went to the mirror lettin. f h.
embroidery f.U neglected on the fIoo"™d'lS th!
young man kneeling before the empty chrj^n
Cavaher, talcing comfort more from her aoUons Zl
from her word*, gathered up the white f«hri„ .u
«U.en skein,, the braid of g,5d ll/^r^^'Z bW
^Ltnettt::'' '"" '-'• "- "■« P^ 'ot
p.^'s^irrhiThrrptTri'ije^in;-
and down, evidently deep in thought ^ "^
thinJlfw/' ^r '^^- " *"*' "'» y°" t^-We any-
tning m which I can assist you ? " ■^
She stopped, looked at him with her great dark eves for
a long moment as if drinking him in. Then ab^X .1?
J^ or a while she d.d nfct answer h m Mor^ f Ko!/
^e seemed about to sp^k. but Ltead ^her w::^:
die unuttered on her tongue, and dropped her eves ?^
youth wasgreatlydisappointed. She'^pe^^totlS^
hm. too young to be of any assistance i^W^^
'^:^' ""^T^ i"'<"P"ted her actfon^"''^-
Hieee Camisard folk do not think so " he s.M
try°:s.^'r»'''"'*^'""^"«'- ^'"'^""'lo'sf;
" :^at which your familiar Spirit reve£^« to vou "
eaid Yvette, with a mischievous gance ^ '
Uvaher blushed deeply.
"Id^'Il?^.'lf^' *^^ *^^ ^ *™«'" ^^ «^id. quickly
J/li l*^^r-'P^^8 ^i*^^ °^«' »>oth it Geneva
"Frighted, I suppose, by the first counsels of com-
mon-sense," said Yvette. smiling. "Ah. Jean ^^^
244
FLO WER-0* -THE-CORN.
r tf
-I
if only you had permitted me to be frank with you
earlier, we should have been spared this folly ! *'
The young man stood gazing at the girl, his eyes
V ide and troubled, his nether lip quivering.
"Do you know," he began suddenly, and then as
quickly stopped as if her radiant beauty had begun to
affect him personally, as heat might or extreme cold.
So the regard of Yvette Poy*8 •yes, lingering, delicious,
personal to himself alone, drew the soul from him and
left him speechless and estranged from his own past.
" Do I know what ? " said the girl, seating herself
and drawing up one knee between her joined hands.
That also she had practised beneath the lamp — never-
theless it looked now the most innocent and spontane-
ous thing in life — as Yvette did it and as Jean Cavniier
saw it. Yet the Camisard leader was no fool, at least
not more so than the rest of the world at one-and-
twenty — nay, and even a few years older.
" That you have never kissed me to-night ! " he
said, taking his fate in his hands.
The girl drew in her breath sharply. Her cheeks
flushed definitely and seriously this time, not with
shame, not with maiden modesty, but with triumph.
She knew now that the game was in her hands.
"This Camisard business," she thought to herself,
" will flutter out and die away like a fire lacking fuel
without him, that is. And he ia mine I "
But aloud she said, "General Cavalier, I am bur-
prised. Either you are of opinion that you can safely
insult a poor girl, or you do not know what you say ! "
"Neither," he said, brusquely, "neither, as God sees
me ! Yvette, Yvette, you know that I love you. You
know it. I have told you so a thousand times. I have
given you a hundred proofs of it ! "
She laughed scornfully.
FLOWER-O'-THE-COlU^.
245
this miwhief .nd m1 k ■"""" " ' ""k ""do •«
di.tr.0^ p';,;ta„^1^ "'<"' J«»" "d quiet to the«
foi^t. " l7Zu2 K "f °' """'""'"g be could not
" V.~ n I ' ''"•'' "y word ! "
refu^Sle :VthS^'ir ^^'''/oy. "you have
need to teU me of TJk ^"T^" '^^ of you. What
~^e J :: f «, ^dTo^C'- '- -en you
and1Spp•:r/.X^J^l^.'-»«,^t^^^^^^
ask ! " ' y°" ™ow not what you
To let hTm fi>" r'^-*^^ °»eant to have it. ^
10 let him think out his thought and fe«I V»,. •
bite in, she turned and plaved witw? , ® P*""
made some pretence^ Fk!* Y *^® ^"'"P- She
dropped fromTe!^S:i.l*^l:^^^^^^^ ^^ ^"^^^
ground. ' ^°* ^ '^^ ^or it upon the
b.S.:;rir'^^n',S;'««-o--~onhis
it. mate. -:»" do y^Lr 'JSit' °°°'"? ?? "^o »«
may not mt » But d^i^- , " "^ ' ""^ yo" I
c J.t m^^or Zt;^^ '^y-Tm'' *'*'*-
246
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
and guarantee the free exercise of their religion. Do
this and— I will do for you the thing you ask of me."
" Do it now," he pleaded, his face eager as a boy's in
the grip of his first love. (Ah, if the woman had been
but worthy !)
At this Yvette smiled her witching smile, and broke
into a trill of merriest laughter.
" Ah," she said, " you are young indeed ! Do you
not know that a favour is only worth asking till it is
granted ? At least, men think so — even the best of
them, even the wisest of them. That is why one
who loves, one who loves to be loved, has sometimes
to deny what she would give— to set herself about
with thorns when her heart is full of flowers ! "
" But BO it is not with Jean CavaUer ! " he cried, his
hands clasped before him as when he was used to
invoke the Spirit— that is before grace had wholly
departed from him.
And he spoke truth, though it did not suit Yvette
Foy*8 present purpose to believe it.
" Come— tell me that you will," she said, swaying
him with her eyes, which never left his face ; " to-night
you must answer me. Not for long can I avert the
storm that is about to break— the anger of the Kmg.
Were it not for my friend Eugenie la Gracieuse, I could
not have done it so long. But now the horsemen have
set themselves in array at the gate, while we on the
mountains (as well you know) are but as men that walk
naked and bare foot among the thorns."
" The Lord is with us ! " answered Jean Cavalier, but
not confidently.
" Are you sure— are you sure ? " said Yvette, in a
low thrilling whisper. " Is He still with you ? "
The face of the young man was suddenly contorted
u3 with the spaam of a great agony. Sobs mightier
HOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
247
thm Uie vreeping of women over the slain ghook him
from he«l to foot. Yvette approached herTranS
f«e clo«r to hi., .U flashing with raviahmentLd
witchery and the joy of life. She took him w"th the
. t»ot.„n of a doubtful denial, the etmn^t wea^n
of .uch a wom«,. The perfumed braids of hlrhT^
bre^m« loose, crisped in rings and tendril Vo„"
The young man's head feU forward.
Ah ! he cried, with a sudden fierceness " von
TJtZ ^ bL "" 'T™u"' Mo.b-evenr;he ^ho
roXa-ar^lCr^ .-rhig-l^tr^-
h^ tuTiirttce <''^:r "^ "4^"«--
sunset red. sw.»t as stolen'':r™.'''u;rn ^Z S
the young prophet of the Cevennes. "« "P« of
You have promised," she said; "yon will com.
f:.fw"rthrK^,'^f-o«>"^o«'ep-ofti.~r
S f ,."P"' '"T* ■'" «**«"" ""«! Jean Cava^^'
And for the second time Yvette Foy kissed hto F^
the woman was fair under the lampiight^dTleasI^t
itl Z^**' T" " ^™ " *« K«den when A<Um firet
rX"hTmy'flr, ^"'' " '"'^ ^ '"- <" »Tb»:
Yet within Jean Cavalier thft hAnrf ™ » v
ttJi-j^-rtL""^ tr °' '^-« whrtLThi^i!
w.nd» from the south pass through from the desert
'^■^ wr^'j¥w^
CHAPTER XXV.
A SFRmoB TO Catch Woodcocks.
^iJ?J-VruT^7^'**^ ^°y ^^^ «P°^«° ^hen she
W Qt'*"^ ^""^ * ^'^'^*" °^«^ *^ '"^ke to Jean Cava-
vLk ^^""'.^^ "^^ »Jon«. liad discerned that this
youth was the crux of the revolt. She had persuaded
of F^n/r^^^fl" ^^'^''^ ^' Montrevel. Marshal
of France, that if the young Camisard could but be
Cevennes, which had flamed and flickered on for so
maiiy years, would be finished once and for all
And since Yvette never did anything for nothmg, as
a pnce for carrying out this successfuUy, the Mawuis
L^hS'^tfr^ *^** '^^ '^'^^^ ^ P^^"°^y acknowle^ed
This was a matter of great moment to Yvette Pov
who^ore than godliness and an entrance to heaven
desued to be recognised as the wife of a Marshal
of the reakn. She was beyond doubt a woman
excellently fan-, and in aU that concerned her own
future of an extraordinary discretion.
.«' ^ J^ ^""« Cavalier to your feet." she had
affirmed more than once ; " he wiU accept a com-
mission under the King and raise a regiiJeuL-^ye.
two or three if necessary-only in that case his raLc
him hke shocp. But for this you on your part wiU
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 249
acknowledge our marriage and present me at the Court
of Versailles!'
The Mar6chal had laughed at this, but with Yvette's
arms about his neck he could do Uttle else but promise.
Ihat you may have others of higher estate upon
whom to try your charms than a mere leader of Cami-
■ard rebels, my pretty Yvette," he said, tolerantly
touching her cheek with his lips.
The Mar^chal de Montrevel, to whom Yvette Foy
had for some time been privately married, was a gen-
Weman of an ancient family of the country of Br^.
He had survived a long career of gallantry, both in the
wars and also in those other fields with which the word
IS more usuaUy connected. He had early attained high
honours m the campaigns of the King. He waTa
famous and successful duelUst. If there was anywhere
a forlorn hope to be led, Nicholas de la Baume was the
man to lead it.
He was now in his six-and-fiftieth year, but not a
single gi.y thread crossed the rippled flax of his hair,
which he wore long and tied in a queue. He adhered
to miLtary moustachios in an age of clean-shaven men.
and had conserved his powers by judicious exercises,
mihtaiy and other.
A certain suave and kindly humour. meUow as his
laugh, and more than occasionally quickened with his
native Burgundy, kept the man's spirit heartsome and
sound as a nut. He had frankly faUen in love with
ivette Foy. when the army was settled at Millau.
before her father's removal to La Cavalerie. and it was
by his advice that the greater part of Martin Foy's
v^^w^'.u?^'?^^'^ **^" ^"*«^ "P0° »»« daughter,
xjot that this had any considerable weight with de
Montrevel. At home he passed for a poor man. He
had been a poor soldier aU his life, and he expected
860
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
i
I
we been made captive of woir en. First, he had beimn
wfth W ^^^-'^°f--*»^-)i« findinghim«,lft b^e
with her With the inevitableness of a woman's
mstmct she knew the feeling that was in hL and
whileallTT T' "^'^^^^ *^" ''^^'^^'^ colX'
while a 1 the time her great black eyes burned with an
inner hght. and the lashes lifted and fell ominorsy
MonW«JT/' .^'"'™* ^^ ^'' «^«^* honour (de
Montrevel had not yet received his marshal's baton
which came to him later in the same year). For her^
se^ she was but a poor girl. Her father- ^though
he did not share h', sentiments, it was well krZ^t
who might any day find himself hanged for treason or
bH>ken on the wheel She could not^lwould noU^n
to him His very love, as declared by him. was an
Tri^li th' f^*" '^'^ ^* *^^ ^°°^' the^consta'nrmeet
nT^n I r °' ^T'^^" ^ GracleuBe, would these
thlT^ TT ! ^"""^ ^" °''^' *^« °*°^P » And what
*fc!!^ 1 * ,^1^®' * «^a* soldier and gentleman, ever
t W .f '^*^n.«""«« ' At least pSor girls had Z
thmk of them. He must never see heVagain "
Knir /° **° remorseless days, with the assistance of
hatf-a-dozen volumes of the Grand Cyrus, Yvette Toy
kept her word. The soldier of Kfng Louis, general of
liL ^' TT^ °^ '^?r^^«^ ^^''^''' ^^'"^ '^nd fumed
Lrtanr r ^^:. "^ ^""^ persuasion upon the maid-
1^!? lu f ^**°'' ^"* *^** narrow-eyed Camisard
smUed with close grim mouth at his clumsy military
.« J* w ^-J^^ threatenings upon Yvette's father,
and Martin Foy told him plainly that he counted the
PLOWER-0*-THE.CORN.
261
loss of his life but gain, and that neither Montrevel the
soldier nor Louis the King had gold thit couM buy
nor wheel hat could break the spi it that was in him.
And meanwhile Mistreos Yvetto abode in her chamber
unseen of any.
Hia staff found their chief both an angry and awkward
commander to deal with durmg these days, and jested
each other as to the probable obduracy of the littb
Huguenot. They even went the length of offering a
reward to the man who would "salt the tail oi the pigeon
on the sugar-plum tree," as the matter in hand was ex-
pressed in the army of his most Christian Majesty
Louis the Fourteenth in the opening y.ars of the
eight en'h century.
But, charm they never so wisely, the turtle-dove
stayed in the plum-tree— or what was the same thing,
in her own proper chamber, with the doors locked and
the windows fastened, and watched through the open
lace-work of the curtain the General de Montrevel,
gnawing fiercely his great blonde moustaches, set
spurs in his beast as he rode away.
The Marquis did not want to marry. He had passed
through a life of fifty years very well without it. It
was a sacrament of the Church Catholic and Apostolic
of which he had never proposed to partake. But
Yvette Foy's mode of treatment was new to him.
In the early days when she was still anxious for his
protection of her father, at the request of the Marshal
she had permitted a famous miniature painter, one
Deyverdun, a renegade Swiss from the Pays du Vaud,
to paint a picture of her— a mere head, he said, a play-
thing to show his most Christian Majesty (who was
fond of suchlike). It ought to have been sent away
long ere this. The King might even have acknowledged
it. More than three packets had been sent to Versailles
I
262
FLOVVER-O'-THB^CORN.
poatpooKet Of the Oenenl'a everv-drnv unifnm.
It w„ never found there «d Mmk^l^
tl^' "^ "'*« "rv^t. For e\:h ^ht Niohoi:
w« ^ o^T*.?"' ""> '^- «"> •«n that the„
an Old fool, he ahpped it under his piUow whe™ hi.
hand often graeped it in the night
In a chamber high over the river at MflUu looking
down on the .haUow punt, that pmAed out ZZ
^SrZ:Vr- ""' "P°" *"• "'" "-"kiS^tJ'a
Zntll "^ "' P'P* '""'y to the right, patientlv*
doing ibi worlc century a'^er century Yvetto ^^tk '
The"' ^'T"' ^'•'•"«'' o'^ichoC/tume'
She re«l and .mOed to herwU. Did .he love Wm ?'
Of«our«not. JFrnda .he love him t Y« .ure"
Z^' f'™ *•"»•• They were fervid kt'teTtoT
tiave laughed heartUy at had he found any of hi.
Mbaltem. m«,ribing such wntimento on p.pi. "
*it love, like neoeMity, ha. no laws.
. J^'if ^9"^^ " ^^"^^ '''« -a" »ho may hold
a mardMl'. biton to-morrow, .tand. no higher than the
meaneat carrier of pike and mu.ketZ. C the
mar.hal burned red with blushing a. he toswd um,^
h« aleeple« bed, and thought o?lme ph^he uS
u»d m the letter he had left at the doSrT^e litUe
hwd-hearted Huguenot that morning. Hrwo^d
rather have oat a battle than had one of ZJr^
out m barrack, to hi. comradea-at-arms
Yyette kept her chamber yet another five dav.
jendmg the General three «,rap. of paper in XalwiS
by the h««b of hor friend Eugenie k Graoieu.;.
9
*
.^Wf-'-y^-
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
9BS
Being wiae, she counted nothing on words. She
passed without comment from de Montrevel's most
fervent appeals. She would not consent to see him,
either alone or In the company of her friend.
On this subject only Eugenie knsw her mind.
To her also the commander-in-chief of the High
Cevennee discovered his soul, or at least so much of
it as bore upon the vexed and vexing question of
little Yvette Foy.
Would she consent to see him under no condi-
tions of companionship, and with no posstble guaran
tees ! "
Eugenie smiled a knowing smile. Yvette, to whom
she was little more than cat's-paw (though in her Vcty
both a kind and a pretty one) had also been gootl
enough to reveal to her, all so artlessly and innocently,
a comer of her mind.
"Yes," she thought. "She might venture to say
that there was one condition of companionship under
which an interview would be granted to the love-sick
veteran of fifty wars.
" And that ? " cried de Montrevel, starting up
eagerly, and coming towards Eugenie la Gracieuse
as if she had been the custodian of a great treasure.
But conscious of her power, she only continued to
smile. There was a certain young officer in the
Maison Rouge in whom she was interested, and she
cared nothing for proximate Mar^chals already ripe in
years. Still Yvette was Yvette, and not only at
liberty to please herself, but quite certain to do so in
any case.
" On what conditions, and in whose company, can
I have an interview with Mademoiselle Foy t " cried
the now thrice-eager soldier.
" In the company of a priest, and on conditions that
:>s
2.54
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
^uoBHonea, with his teeth c!enchf»rf t* - j
m.p«s.ble to ta* thus, but the X»1id. "^"""^
ce A n^ 0^^;o'„'wteZ1: '""^^' " ""^
There it is. Y,u „./k " ^l'°? ^ '"«'«' "y opinion.
you please - " ^ *" «""'«* ""y " ^ not, juBt as
n.'^' tT-IlSt *^^ ' "'Si" t° t'-'^t «>« matter over
inree times he awore bv all th« ..:„>. i
military man t/, »i™ ^ ,, 7 "^'^ ""own to a
Twice Vopen^T " *""«'" <" ""« »"oh.
Swi».a minTalu^^int tCir t^ llT 'H"
paused and Iook*»d ««,«„, \u ' . ^ ^^^^ *"»« he
oertain^red .r:l ZUl^rZ ^^^^ "-
Tu.'eSri:'^'' '^''-' neirerttt'^;!'
pAl^ll^TZeltiY^J^rerSer
'or ,^nsr;:^:rw^^rer ^^e r
would never make me a MarAal of pZ^tf ^L^
rt^ !?• 'T*"' •■« toilette yet incompkto a^d^L,
^'oSTJo^h** •''*^''' ^"°'"' oon-ul^wiuT"
at once so oharmmg and so comfortable duriT th^
M^rF„°""' ^"^"'' '^ to the hZ o1
Martm Foy, a considerable and even eiZl.^f
mans on on the river front of Millan. ^"''"'
She dehve«d her message without any^pe.*
Ti^^-m:^:^*
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 265
enthusiasm, adding, " But. of course, you will never
t^J carrying him. He is old eno^h toZToZ
!o!l K.^r"'^*'*''^' ^ ^^^'y °°^ ^0^8. wears an
agreeable uniform.
«vf^ T*"' t^^'^^^'?' '^o'^ tl^an ever astonished, how-
ever, when Yvette Foy jumped up. and went dino^,
and sk.ppmg about her chamber ^
«fL^ A 7°u^ Unconditional surrender I That
^TJ J' ^' °°* * '""^"^«' * ««"«ral. and. in
a short month, may be a marshal of France ? Wh^
mattera a private marriage ? I shall take my own time
to publish that ! Why. I would many him if hT wZ
old enough to be-my great-^eo<.grandfather ! "
a wicked smile upon her friend.
"And besides I-love-him ! " she said, slowly
Yet strai^e as it may seem, her dearest friend
Eugenie la Gracieuse, did not quite believe her.
^'1
•^^^'■^FIV^:' aff-r'-vs-vrv-j
CHAPTER XXVI.
Floweb-o'-th«-Corn Fwds Friends.
But in gpite of the plote against the Camiaard atronir.
holds and the weU-considered innocencies of Mistrew
Yvette, there were stiU hearts m the world simply and
joyouslj happy. f jr «uu
Such was that of our sweet Flowers' the-Com, when
looking down the pUed mystery of the street of Saint
\eran in the early winter morning, she saw her father
approachmg m company with a young man. Both
were mounted on great Flemish cart-horses and both
rJ!T^' ^^^u °*^f «™'°*' *^« '^"«h blouse of
the ordmary tiller of the soil.
But underneath the dirt and discomfort inseparable
from such an adventure as that which these two had
undertaken, it was impossible for Flower-o'-the-Com
for a moment to mistake the taU form, erect almost to
ungamlmess, the wavmg white locks and great, kindly
untrammeUed eyes of the hte chaplain of ArdraiUan's
regiment.
Besides, there was with him— could it be ? Yes it
was the young man whom she had seen-whom she had
and^Hoo^' ^^""^ *^^ Waggoner of Roche-a-Bayard
It seemed an impossible thing, but there he was
P^. /• .l^*^''''.f "' *' ^ * P»^ «' ^he horse.'
*or that 18 the way aides rode even during the wars
FLOWER.O'-THE<X)RN.
257
ofmy Lord Marlborough, whatever the nature of their
other a<^omplishmei»te. And behind him. on ^oth^
bewt swaying like a weU-filled wool-sack wT B«t
J^^ rl^^ ^-^ *^« — ^^ierT. r
I^e crowing erf the gorge of the Dourbie had been
^d^ttiat by a happy thought of BiJJy M^Ss
^i^^^oL'v^'^''" """'^ ""'^ "^^ ^ *^^' " -- yon
To his surprise BiUy drew himself up to his full
he^of s« foot four, and his voice was one of extreme
mdignation as he answered. " And what age ^oes vo^r
honour tak' me for. na ? » ^ oes your
tJJ f^'^^Ili ^°" '^^''^ * "^^^^^ o^ twenty-eight or
»o«*y !" said Maurice, meekly ^
nlc!l^lT*^%^''" be takkin' me for a muckle gutsy
plooman frae Laneriok or the Shire ? » inq^
Bdly." said Maurice, soothingly. " I have often hS
that^ you were bom anH brought up in KirkcuST
" Wed thanr said BiUy. with the air of one who has
just proved a point to mathematical demonstration
dmna you be askin' Billy Marshall at this time o'
ttLT X '"" '^^* ^'^'^ ' ^^*"' h« ^O'^W steal
them by the score-that is, if the wretohed garrons
hereabouts were worth tying to a head-raip • "
" . ^«« Bfy." said Maurice, clinching the matter
here are nine good horses ; if wo do not get them
across yon blue vaUey. we will never see hilt nor hair
tK« ATr''^' °°l *^^ P"^« °' '^^^' Ju«t consider
i«at wiej, are to ue stoieu, and that Kelton-hiU is up
17
358
FLOWER.O'-THE-CX)RN.
yonder where the housee of Saint Veran are dark
against the blue. Could ye manage it ? It is worth
twenty gold guineas if you do ! "
" May I never tak my black-thorn in at yae side o*
Kelton-hiU an' oot at the ither again wi' ony credit,
gin I fail ye ! May I never gang back to the decent
Cameronian regiment — may I be hangit for half-an-
hour by the provost's w .h as a black deserter gin I
dinna i * Steal them '— 4 io he— I wad think it black
and bitter shame in a man-body come to my time o'
life if he couldna steal as mony o' anither man's cattle,
let alane his maister's. Aye, an' sae could Bet, wha
hasna a drap o' bluid in her body that isna the
blackest blood of the Faas. An' ye a' ken it's the
Faas that hae keepit the burgh hangman in decent
employment an' pease-meal brose ever since there
was a kingdom o' bonny Scotland. Steal a horse
indeed ! Man, ye dinna ken what ye are talkin' aboot,
but I'll hae nane o' your siller— na, na, I'U steal for
love and maister-service as an honest man should ! *'
If he had thought of the matter as a feat of mere
scouting or spying, even as the removal of certain
animals from one side of a valley to the other, Billy,
ignorant of the language as he was, would certainly
have blundered into the first French patrol and been
shot for his pains, together with his companions.
But the affair ice put before him as the stealing of
so many good Flemish horses, the thing was as good
as accomplished.
At all events here they were riding easily into Saint
Veran, up the narrow, not over-clean street, Maurice
looking every way up and down the fronts of the
houses for the first sight of a girl who had just thrown
down her plain white seam (not embroidery, like
Yvette's), ^and was now pattering down the stone stairs
FLOWER.O'.THE<»RN. gg,
" ia.t as her Uttle light feet could carry her-to m«,f,
and weloome-her father. "y ner to meet
Now Flower^'-the^m had been angn, with
Manrjce lUith But. to teU the truth. nor.^an^t
^ wom«, naturaUy blames the woman-^ven S
a« conta«y can be proven to the «ti.f.ction of a
jury. Which « a reason why in «U countries wher^
?AV:?rer ™"*''"°" «^''- '-- "-"' -r
iu.«l " aI, m"^ "T *''" '*" °' '«»' th« more of
justice. And FlowerV-the-Ciom's anriety to be q^ite
aZ^r ^^"'.'\'^-^on.r (or, as he was ^t
appear. Maunce Raith) resulted far more from m
innate suspicion of the good faith of Yvette C th«
IJvette can take m a man. and many men-ave and
m «,me mstance, keep up the deception till ST'd^ad
^ "?§;. bad'""" fr '''**'™ ' ™""«'. '»d «
LTl" '"" °' """^ e.perience-the go^ by
So it chanced that Frances WeUwood was more
wUbng to be reconciled to Maurice Raith ttan °h^
young man had anticipated after his last into^ew
damt.n«M on the doorstep of the house of the old
CtT VJ"" "'"' *""• '°'"^ "">'»<"• M""™- thought
even that day when he had chanced upon her first
among the Namur cornfields
'^..7.*? .'he heavy white frosU of the ni.ht.
-.- dra„>,l«, iroau. of the houses once white with
260
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
1*1
lime-waah, now aU oolouw that were slimy and un-
plewant, made a striking background for the taU
slender figure of the girl, shrinking gracefully within
yet eag^ to be without. WeU-fitting boots, made by
the regimental bootmaker when she was at once the
plaything and the mascot of ArdmiUan's hardbitten
Presbyterian regiment, peeped from beneath the up-
held skirt. Then the corn-ripe hau:, the lips of coral
the eyes of turquoise blue, the dainty gladness of her
action as she leaped fairly and squarely into her
father*s arms, all these touched the young soldier to
the heart. It was difficult to say which fascinated
him the most.
Stout old Patrick received his daughter's impulsive
advance as if at the pike exercise he had been ordered
to prepart to receive cavahy. As for Maurice he
only wished that Flower-o'-the-( 3m had somehow
missed her aim.
She kissed her father, first on one cheek and then
on the other, in Continental fashion.
" Carry me in ! " she cried, her ar a clasped about
her father's neck. " Oh, it is so dirt here! And— I
thought you were never— never com, ag,' she added,
somewhat irrelevantly.
And (to the wish that is father to the thought) she
seemed, by an eye-glance like the sunlit sky for bright-
ness, to include Maurice in the emphasis.
" I thought you were never coming," he murmured
to himself, and that more than once.
It was her father who spoke first, when once he had
deposited his daughter on the firm and walkable earth
of the courtyard.
•' This is the young man," he began, taking Maurice's
hand affectionately, "known to us as the waggoner
who brought the direct and official oommunicatic
FLOWER-0'-THE-CX)RN.
281
from the camp of the aUies. Like ouwelve. »„H
lor a similar reaaon ho u— u ""'^'^«". and
Flow J^ri'Sr;^^^^™- 7 daughter."
remArlr Wk-* i. oowea oistantly, but made no
too cheaply. She £ht o^t^butTSS T,°"
gotten the hut time rtie hiJI^„ hL • ^ '""/°'-
*e ^T"7^Z ZaliT' "1' f ''<-*^'
this plaoi n3th.t, „« ?ld people. ohUdle*, for
pestered oat of my life during theM^f' i. I ' '^°
who wanted to W wKtl^ S^elv^''' ""y P~P'»
father, woald pay them a vi^t^" ' ^'* y°"' "'
" M- J means precede the younc man
Nay, my daughter." he said « k/; •
mieafc—nr of i ° ' ^® *""» he is m a manner our
guest — or at least yours ! Cantain Pouu n ,
'^oX'^.r °^«^'-~^™-^«- '""
pufhrCtn^tTe ''"' "'^""'«'"° ''■^ •"" to
mere %htt^„r,^d T^s rllT' " n*"
weight, being Jeed a, n^ to noth^''L° t'h ''"'"■
i understand my father to «7? " ' ^ ' "^
262
FLOWER-O'-THIS-OORN.
That Is my name ! " said Maurice, innooenUy. He
had no thought of guile in his heart, though he had
some reason to be ashamed of the circumstances under
which Frances WeUwood had last seen him, and would
have given aU his present wealth (a smaU matter
enough) and all his future prospecto to be able to clear
up the matter to her satisfaction.
Of this, however, for the present there seemed smaU
chance.
" Captain of which service ? " said Hower-o'-the-
i>orn, with a glance at the red uniform of the Maison
du Koi, which Maurice stiU wore under his waggoner's
The young man laughed, a cheerful, hearty kugh.
good to hear. ^ ^ *
" 0^ t^e English service, of course ! " he answered.
1 was formerly of the Cameronians, along with our
fnend behind there. Billy Marshall, who is in charge
of the horses." *
" How, then, came you by this pretty thing ? " said
Frances, touching the red uniform with her hand.
T^at I cannot say," he replied. " I had thought to
have brought with me my staff coat, with some idea
that If taken by the French, I might have had at
least one chance of not being hung for a spy. But
some fauy must have been abroad the night when the
waggons were unloaded, for when the package was
hnaUy opened, we turned out the uniform of the Maison
Rouge of the King of France ! "
" Ah ! " said Francos, leaning a little more heavily
upon his arm. The stairs were a little steeper just
at that point. Then she added softly to her-
•eif, Methinks I could put my hand upon the
t3 rH "^^ ***"^ ^^* ^^^' ^ikm^t too great
difficulty." *
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 863
Maurice Raith went on, oonscioni only of the
relaxed severity of her voice.
" ^"* *'*•' all the matter has turned out weU. For
the dress has been of use to us on more than one occa-
sion ! " ^^
And he prcKjeeded to teU how, ia company with
Catmat^he had rescued Yvette Poy from the clutches
of the Cadets of the Cross.
Flower-o'-the-Com's hand dropped whoUy from his
arm.
You mean Madame la Mar^hale de Montrevel I "
she said. And then, seeing Maurice stare aghast, she
added, sharply, " Oh. no, it is not I who have lost my
^ts 1 Did you not know Yvette and she are one and
the same person ? "
CHAPTER XXVn.
Th> THnto Host WomaauL nr all th. World..
SMteM of the d«mty maiden who had k manreUoudv
N^ touMported to them .o«„ the gorge TZ,
^>,'^n*'"^y S"** to »•'<»»• «ie oelebratrf
«we of Soottiri. blood m no way detracted from their
P2»l«>ty among th. Huguenot., at Ie«.t at that to"
P<w ever Bnoe the Revocation of the Edict of nZ^
•woj. ttie ^el. and alre«Iy there were few ^3
^eOnuMTd. who had not friend, in London TSf
S^thil""'"' "*° " ^'"^' » ™«- "^
tofTun^ri^ '^u ~°'«y«' P't^k WeUwood
«J^^^ ^'"'' '•'"• ™ ''Mden from pryim,
«rf mqn».ton.I eye. a preoiou. .tore of wuveSirf
.^.n r^^ "' ?^* Con«i.tory (rituated in a^,"
amja and moonapicuon. .treet known by the a. me
the Pyramid m the Seven DiaU. Here al.o w« a
letter of the great Ma«,ui. de Ruvigny. who ^,t
addieMd to good Monaeur Severin, the miniated
r-«5S."ywHi J
FLOWER.O».THE.CORN. S60
•rd Madame Montbeliard, and even yet freaZZ
oorreeponded with them. ^ "equently
•n^ n A1. 1. « ''""^ »»'"» «o common in conventual
Md Ojtholio France, h«l not, .t that tune. "S
the ftoteetant department., and, indeed, MoMfe«
•nd Madam MontbeUard thought onlv of thTu^
lie young people were, therefore, left together with-
^ •^'^''u- , A-d " • fi"t proof that thU coSd«t
h^U«. rjghtly repo«d in them, they looIceSln "^
t~T duectK.n, out of different window., and .^ke
But no letter,, however building up .pirituaUy, nor
SS.*^"' ''°'""'" predetermined, Im tod Z
fl^ of tmje. or long olo« the mouth, of two yo,^
pe^U, who have «mething to My to each other^' ^
aa^TM.*^ n^.'^" *^' '^""^ <>« ^ bloule, and,
n!^' • T"* '"■°"" "«" " the by no ^2
nnbeoonung d,e«i of the M.i«>n Koug^ Pr^X
from hi. ^t at the window he vented a l^i^^
hoUow and de«,l.te a. the wmd. which St ^'
withdraw through the ^,f,« of Padirao.
^ Flowers -the-Com .miled, but «cretly and to her-
the*^,^„!*'"?iT'°' ' '«!> «. mighty thi. time that
Whereat Flower-o'-the^m hughed outritrht »„-i
1»n mm«diately felt that Ae h,5 maT^^'tX
1^
w^-m.
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FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
MiXLI
mI S!*^k?' "' ^ ''^^ ^^ '^' "PP"°« «°°"^' Maurice
left his place and was standing by her side. He did
eyes steadily upon her white seam. She regained her
n^^r'\ '^ '^°^*' ^"^ ''' *^^ moment' a'Teast
neither laughed nor smiled. She only sewed as if he^
livel^ood depended upon the dilige/ce of her Lgert
hi, fin T,^! °^^1 Of you, do you know ? " he said
his fingers itchmg to lay themselves upon the waves and
curve of her white neck. He could not see her face
and m the circumstances that was, perhaps, as well'
su^^e "-^'"^ ^""^^^ "P ^* ^^ -^*h - kind Of
" What was cruel of me— to laugh ? " she said • " I
Yv Jr^ * I f PP°'^ y°" ''^^^^ because-bec'ause
Y^^te IS not here. But / camiot help that, you
hi^lqut. '""'' '" '"^ "''^' " ^ ^^"^ °^«^
«f'i!:f°t "^'^ * ""^""'^^ '^°°'*'^' *00'" «he added.
timeT" °°"'^^' ^°'' ^^^"^ °°* ^°^ **^** a* tl^«
The young man could not keep his hands to himself
Of the gu:l. Rwmg to her feet she straightened herself
haughtily. And taking one after the oLr d^opp^"
in the au- as if it had been a spider
Yvl?V°'^'*'" "^^ '^^' ^'^^'^y^ "^ ^^ neither
trlvel!" °°'' yet-Madame Mar^chale de Mon-
^^ " Have you no pity in you ? » said Maurice, meekly •
You know that I have made a grievous mistake. I
—1 never loved that— 2^;o?nan."
" Then the greater the shame," said Frances, quick
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 267
TJJ"^^' "'""*'«" the matter interests me" she
nSsit?fLt ^'"1™ "*• ^ "■» °°' under any
•' Th*..o i ■'^^y.*'^®^*^ °° *P* *° ^®Peat them ! »
darindv HeT°^ ' f f 1 ''" '^'*«' '" «-^ Maurice.
e:p:^aeti^%rnrhe?J^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ '^' ^^ ^^g
sewiLTaHh:^^^^^^^ '^- ^-^^'^^^' ^«^^^^ up W
^J'i r'^'^.F *° ""^ ^^*^^' ' I think he is caUW
me, she eaid, with what severity she could comma^^
On tne contrary." said the young man "I yZr
him expressing himself in excellent Fr^^nTh c'oncer^'
(if I mistake not) the eflFect of the victory of La hZ!
upon the prospects of the Camisard cause '' ^ '
theCom*''^-yf'' ^ '^"" ^° *^ ^^''^ '^^ Flower-o'.
the-Corn with a persistent, but not yet comnW^^
convmciog, determination. ^ completely
Now what happened just after that it is hard for the
most accurate chronicler to say ®
Frances Wellwood had a needle in her hand So
much IS certain. And as Maurice Raith took a sten
nearer to her, something occurred ^
bre'aS°!if toi^ ^ou," she said, laying her hand on her
Dreast as if to recover her breath, "I am not Yvetf^TTo^
"T^'StTi" '^''V' *"" "•"'• ^- tad n^thl'^'
Ihe needle stood out threaten'nalv l,iro « u
which had been fleshed onctald ^te^i^a; t^ZT
Maunce was holding his wrist, a lookof iXo^s
penitence upon his face. «"uicrous
Jl ^-TL f^P^*«d I''ower-o'-the-Cora, viciously " I
hope It did hurt. I am veiy glad of it." ^'
mem* ' °'"^^' ^ ''°' * "'"'"y ^^'^t'an »^n«-
268
PL0WER.0'-THE<30RN.
it^^.'JltL"°'^t?:- ^ «^>«>»«on came of
" liT^? r V .""'' ^^ theRaith water in soate
of a mo~h! "' *".!" r ■"''' "y *« foolish to^
'' I Crtf ' i "'y °' an hour," pleaded Manrice
from Z^r^u^'rr^ ^ ''^ worda^liTeTese
won. ^^ figment was not of those who are easily
you pVeferredTuoh "• ' "^ '""" y°" '°" ''« *»*
a :ri-re^---r.-f. - - Ma^-, ^th
of that— that minx ! " *^® ^°"^«
««"u^^!.x '» ^''''^^ ^^"«« the woman '-ves thaf ,'«
an old motto " saiH PiriT^r., ^» ^i. ^ ^ ' '''^*'' "•
frn^^fK*^^'"' ^''^'' ^^^'^ ^^"^^'^ ^ever get their dues
from their own sex-how much less the others •
Maunce however, was in no way discouraged S},«
made no further movement to leave ZZlt and
the young aide of my Lord Marlborough knew 2t?„
long as a woman does that, she wiU l^terrreason
There was a bright flush of rose on the girl's cheeks
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 269
upstairs so poutingly upon U.r>rJeZ^^s X Z
r.^rrsH'r.--°"---wS?
' IVances," he continued manfully, « I love vou T
have loved you a long time. I have towTouf J^theJ
that I love you. He knows who I am, and at W k«
does not disapprove. But, of course, 'Z hL notW
to do with you and me. You must like me or leave mf
haste. One thmg only do I require of you now To
aTanTer!!:?^^ '° ' '^"^^^ *^^* ^ - -*"ledl:
Here Flower-o'-the-Com moved her feet uneasilv
on the uncovered wooden floor, but she did nofspeat
^ Do you love any man so much that you feel there
18 no room in your heart for me ? »
hi^?! ^^^ ^^^' ""^ Flower-o'-the-Corn flashed upon
him ahnost more mischievously, though less wickedly
than those other black ones of Yvette Foy
" Yes ! » she said. That, and no more. He was
answered, and now she looked fuU at him as if daring
him to continue. °
The sunburnt, out-of-doors hue upon Maurice Raith's
face paled mstantly to a ghastly paleness. His finder
naJs gripped deep into his pahns, his head iew
suddenly hght. the room turned round, and had hi
not been near the window-siU he might have fallen
ine gu-l s answer, coming sharp as a pistol-shot for
the moment paralysed him.
a^l^^y^u! ^^"^''"^ ^' "^^^ movement at
first with doubt. to_which foUowed surprise Then
270
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
came compunction, and lastly Flower-o^the-Corn added
Botuy, I — meant — my— father ! "
Brought up as Frances had been among the talk of
men, the constant alternation (as it were) of a sober love-
^e!f«"'^w t^ ^^'''^' ^^^<M.r^, she could har^y
as sh A * *.^' ^"""' """^^ ^^ «° '^^^^^ to a man
Ztl ^°^^.^* "^"^J be to a woman, whose fate it is to
wsThc^r^ ^" '^^ '^' ^^"^' --^^« ^ ^-
And above aU an aide, a favomite of mv Lord
Marlborough's, who had declared that til) a man h»
how to teU a he or how to write a diplomatic letter !
It w^ mconccvable ! Yes ; she liked the young man.
She was ready to find him interestmg. Her father
was on hjs side So far, gooa . But af she looked at
the ghastly pallor, the sudden shaking of the pillara of
.^r- nd^irrthfr^r ^r:
genmne mterest in religion, who remembered a time
when she had sat upon their knees, or who f^^ reasons
of then, own affected to remember-that Flower-o^!
the-Com was never quite sure which of the two
questions she would be called upon to answer "Do
you love me ? » or " What is the chief end of m ?-
i\Z J^^^ ^T^ "'^'' ^^^ somehow different fro..x all
the others There was no affectation about those
palhd hps, that sudden ebbing of the tide of life with
fll . u' ^"^? ^'^^^^ ^^^« *« ^^^«- Compunction
took hold upon her suddenly. For Frances WeUwood
had a tender heart-not when it suited her, like Yvette
«r 1!"^^ ^^^'' ^°^ ^^^^"^ »b® co^ld not help it.
She held out her hand impulsively. There was qo
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
271
" I am Sony," she said, very
needle in it this time,
simply.
»n^^ii°?' I'""' *'"' ^"''^ °' I''"™k WeUwood rose
and eU m the exposition of the true doctrin^ rf jZ
Calvm, and the rustling of letters spirituaU^d ette«
controversial reached their ears irZ^lZ! ■"? '"«*»
to ttese two that they ZTj^^TZL^^r.
stars that the Five Points of Doctrine »h« tT •
Decrees, ffireewiU and Foreknoll^^Tbsoful, '^r
some considerable time to state and setUe '
For whatsoever trials there were awaiting them and
what dangers soever loomed up in the near fntn^' Z
greatevent,the j^eatest m anys^W^rad haZ;,*^''
A woman out of a pure heart had coimittedT^
wt't E:r :dir '^"^^ *" *»■« ■"- -^o s
Revolutions and empires, the rise and faU of ereat
regaht.es, are not greater than this. And for thfa
reason. Without this yielding and taki^ of women
^d not^"«^r '"""' '*»""'' "° "^WonTuo"
ceed - nothmg cither great or smaU be brought to
pass. Ilie generations of men would pass awav and
the earth iUelf rol: through space, barren, wS "d
d«»late as the dimpled lava deserts of o'„r aZdant
i
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Vae Viotis !
Though Cavalier had promised to do what in him
lay to end the war, yet no man knew better than he
how long and unkindly was the road which lay between
promise and perfonnance. He was reaUy chief of the
entu-e Camisard revolt, though nominally of one only
of the five legions into which they were divided.
More than once Yvette Foy was compelled to exert
her personal influence over the young Camisard leader,
before he could be brought to the point of a secret
meeting with de Montrevel. Indeed it was not till all
hope of active military assistance from the British had
died away, that Cavalier agreed to the momentous
interview.
"You have no hope save in the clemency of the
king," urged Yvette ; "the English wiU not help you
to more than a little powder and shot. Then* sails
have disappeared over the horizon as swiftly as they
came. They wiU not return. You are here on these
bleak mountains, surrounded on all sides by hostile
populations. What chance, think you, is there for a
few hundred peasants against the armies of France ? "
" We have held these same mountains for five years
—we poor iU-armed folks ! " said Cavalier, stung by
the girl's tone more than by her words. But all the
same he did not dare to look at her. That he still felt
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
273
wtohi^ the whirling aSri'i^: ^'^ «^««n.
over the huge whale^aoWuwti '*?' «»'°e '» them
I««o, now more than e„. k ^"^ °' *''• ^auMo de
''B«t what ~rt o. ra.^°?^° "f ^'"'"■at..
oompelled to fight aLCt lT7u '''°° """ "^ ""
do against the armies which Z^ ' "''" '^ y°»
fought on aU the boMerT^d, „f »? ^q-^Hed Spain,
«>e Low CountriesT TW ii '"' ""P*"' «°»quered
Jam in fiood sw^s a2°^a ^.trfT T" ' " *"<>
droughts!" y * """dbanJc of the summer
snoZrm^ir^" "^ '""'' "' »"« "wirl „f the
'•:^?'^i:^'r;jrfi:e°d°"M''^''""-'' "« ^i^--
twice before the/atUck L Cav^'""'^^' ^ '^^
«>»rd us front and rea/onH^ Cavaiene with that to
Yvette Foy Wt W i; ".'** ""^ °° ""at ! "
«lf that he Zm veTpt fS'^' k"' ^""^ "er-
inew that she had too steot t .' ?^"°"y- ^'" »>■•
It w„ simply a ques^^n^oS; ^°" ""'"' ''« ^o""-
tookyfuf;atll^f' I'T '-^ ».,0o you, I
" What 9 » ,«♦ . , see— you are only— .'»
-^ upt«y S'^r^^ >'- ^^va^er. tL red rush-
to call him " the Genrvln bfkertbfv ."' "" "'«"'*
of his own sect who scorned him ^' "^ '""^ *<"»«
^ "A Caussenard ram thft b^.^T '°™P'«"<"1»-
head down ! " said thrgS.lm^ "' ' ™-' -«■ ^^
V.^ThaT^lVhtr/rr"'™''^' '"''' '-* «•«
- than ever ^fo^T^XTZr^Z''^,
18
S74
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
m
t
U>.
" True, true ! '* he murmured, more to himself than
to her, " it is true. I am even as one that strikes out
his brains wilfully against a stone wall."
" Ah, if there were not others — who trust you — who
loye you," she said, softly, putting her hand upon his
arm, "you might have a right to throw away your
life. But you know, alas ! all too well — that your life
is precious, most precious, to others — to me ! "
Jean Cavalier was silent. The snowflakes which
crowdedwilderingly without, jostling each other in their
haste to reach the ground, were not more wayward and
fitfully confused than his thoughts. Hitherto the
young general of the Camisards had marched breast-
forward to a clearly defined goal. Now the storm of
his passions, the blind impulses that came to him
from without, set him flitting and floating like a
snowflake windblown through a tormented chaos of
greyness, going he knew not whither.
He looked up at the girl. There was an appeal in
hi£> ./es — a kind of dumb agony, possible only to the
youngwhen they first find themselves in the grip of fate.
" Why— -oh, why do you strive to make me unfaith-
ful to the Voice ? What is it to you ? " he said, with
a certain pathos which was yet not reproach, but
rather a confession of his own weakness and of the
supremacy of his adversary's strength.
" Do / deserve nothing at your hands ? " she said in
a low and thrilling whisper. " Is all I have done — all
I have given up, nothing to you ? "
" God knows it is everything to me, Yvette," he
made answer; "but remember, I too have given up my
all for you — my people, my father's house, the Voice
that spake to me, the Pillar of Fire that moved before
— God and His sacraments — ^all these are lost to me !
Have I truly gained you ?
u
n^WER^'-THE^IORN.
tk''
276
oopi^g. lik. . r^:^z dot r 'rt::^!?"'
you ^.^ ^'oe*??. '^7 »f ««» '»«" eit.»th th.«o„.
Then, making . eeZl ^^l . ^ "°« """• «™8%-
hand^, he^der-To,? . '^'T '"'P"""" with U,
^:^^:«^;f~^^^^"-rha-ea.x
»ee. Ah. he was one among many. verilyX '^oh
of hopeless s^nd" " iTm'' "''' ^™ «*»'«»
that which you w °uld " ^°""- ^° '^*'> »«
she must strike d;hcatet ^f " «*P«rience that
blacksmith's anvFilT^. H "^ f°[ ' *'"« '« *•>«
DaintUy as a eolt^f i, « '"^ "?' ">« 'orehammer.
heraeUtohertf^ "'"' °'" '^ "%«. »he set
Not so." she whispered, meekly " i,.!,-
am as griercd for this p^r folk T.™ °™ °°' ^
"» poor loik as ever you can be. la
976
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORNj
not my father aUo one of them, a leader and a
chief ? Would I do aught to hurt either him or them t
It not my life, my all, wrapped up in this place, de-
pendent upon the goodwill of these poor honest neigh-
bours ? It is because I know so much, see so clearly
—that I am working for the preterration of these
ignorant villagers— why else should I take the trouble t
It is no light matter to risk misconstruction from one's
best friends, from those for whom one has siyen up
all I " 6 F
And at this point, by what means soever Yvette
Foy achieved the marvel — whether by touching the
back of her throat with her tongue, as the manner of
some is, or in some other fashion — certain it is that two
great burning drops fell on the back of the young man's
hand. And when he looked suddenly up, lo ! the tears
were running freely down the cheeks of that innocent
and simple maiden, Mistress Yvette Foy.
Jean Cavalier sprang to his feet. He clasped the
girl in his arms. " I will come," he said. " You shall
not weep — not for me — I am not worthy of it. And I
see that you do love me I Tell me that you do ! "
" To-night, then ? " she sobbed, ignoring his appeal.
" Yes— to-night— if you will," he answered. " What
thou doest, do quickly," he adv^ed.
All unconsciously he had ust d the words of Another
— of One who also was betrayed with a kiss.
" To-night, then," she said, touching his short crisp
curls softly with her lips and smiling through her tears,
" at the Ferry-house of Beaucaire upon the Tarn. I
will guide you there. We shall go hand in hand ! "
'.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Tm FiBET OF Bbauoiim.
Tm night oune. u nsuiJ, with the swift ebbioir of th.
day But it w« midwinter, and even in the^iSj th!
tw%ht began «x>n after mid-aftemoon. dow^ tt»^ h^
the tmoothly-flowing Tarn. There wai lu^ ^
tte flelda-a spSg merely. 'f^wlS^th^Tin^
rtocke .tood out. recalling the blackened h«i rf
trst.ni;;fh:yr;xtxrt^^ ?
oakMo^l-Z t%"^" T """'^"^ »'«> floating
oauee of ice, detached from the pools higher nn tS
oame from the go^fes a faint ripping ^S . ^
maker tearing cloth. It was the fceo^ JT/ ^
•gainat the other. * grmdmg one
of hot metal^eLtl to^e^„sw"Z';/ ""^
d«k lanterns about. Thf^T^S^^d^'ttldr
a light showed for a moment from fh^ Ttr,ii j
was incontinently extinguis"ra a fcTh^'i'*' "^
upon a candle. AB aZut the^ w« M rf t^"^'
soribable atir and uneasiness iZ^Zb^^l "^
P~«noe8 near at hand but un^^^"* *~"° '"™»
278
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
HI
So much for the side of the river nearest to the quar-
tors of the commander-in-chief of the King of France
the Marquis de Montrevel. The side of the Tanl
towards the Causse of Larzac lay in deepest gloom.
Frowmng rocks overshadowed the pools, and even the
while foam of the shaUower rapids could not show the
famtest haze of grey through the dense inky black
It seemed impossible for any living thing to descend
tnose frowmng precipices. Even in broad daylight the
task appeared more suited to goats than to men. In
the moonless night the attempt seemed mad and
unpossible.
Yet for more than an hour two people had been fol-
lowing the dog's trail which led zig-zag down the bald
precipices of the Causse where they overhang the river.
The stars above them grew sparser and more rainbow-
like in theur sparkling as the adventurers dipped lower
mto the valley haze.
But the two minded nothing but themselves—
neither m the heavens above nor in the earth beneath
—as, mdeed, is the way of such. They had heard
behmd them as they fled from La Cavalerie the sound
of the chaunted evening psahn, telling of peace and
mercy and the stern joys of righteousness. To Yvette
Foy it was no more than the crying of the wLooper
swans high overhead in the windless November
dusk, or the winter wolves howling across the wilder
ness in the grey dawnings. But to the ear of Jean
CavaKer every note came sharp-toothed with remorse
Each line was haUowed by the associations of bygone
communions, of gales of the Spirit sweeping over the
congregation of the Lord's folk. Every well-remem-
bered word edged itself and cut sharp to the dividing
asunder of soul and marrow. Each pause for prayer
brought back the faces of his brethren— the gloomy
t
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 279
Temple, the bowed heads, the eyes veiled and dim,
the sweet mfinitely gracious hush that follows the
act of the breaking of bread.
And clearer than aU Cavalier saw the empty place
where he should have Ltood-the little red Bible he
had brought from Geneva, with a hundred places
marked here and there, yellowed at the bottom of
every page by the thumb-grip. He had never thought
to part with that. It was to have accompanied Wm
to the coffin, so that (in That Day) he might, as it were,
readily find the place and stand with the Charter of
he vation patent in his hand.
Ah, it was over. Standing high as heaven, he
had faUen lower than the lowest pit. For others there
might be hope. For him none. He had saved others.
They told him so day by day in the open consistory of
the samts-how this one and that laid his turning to
Crod to the account of Jean Cavalier.
WeU, at least aU would be over now, once and for
evOT. He was about to betray the folk who had stood
*u u^' "^^ ^*® *^^^* *° ^®^^®^ *^®™ ^"^ the hands of
the bloody persecutors. His name,thathad been written
among the stars, would now be hurled in the dust.
The Camisard shepherd, as he wrapped his plaid
about him on the Causse, watchmg the sheep by night
would spit at the name of Jean Cavalier. The martyr'
in the red robe of flames or looking into the muskets'
mouUi, would lift up a hand and testify against him.
Mothers m the Huguenot Israel would speak of him to
their children as the great and awful Warning, the
Achan of Cursing in the camp of the faithful.
Jean Cavalier felt aU this as he went further from
the low easily-destructible waUs which for his sake the
hands of his faithful hillmen had built. He overpassed
the ordered lines of trenches, now half-filled with snow
280
FLOWER.O*-THE-CORN.
i
■V,:
ful chauntmg. Once he put hia hands to his ears to
shut out that eaU. But it came clearer thanZe^^
sharp as reproach. They seemed to be smging over
andT'ir'^^T**'" «"*°^bment of aU that wa?noble
and worthy m Jean Cavalier. Yet he went on. For
him the die was cast. It was too late. All was finished.
There was no oil any more in his lamp. He had
1 IVr *^l ^'S^^'^y-^o- ^ now no future
afe-no God-no hope-only a blackness of darkness
for ever and the good angel of Jean Cavalier tear-
fully yeihng his face with his wings. He was doomed
TJI , u °r ?**""' "^'^^ '^^^^« ^'^d Cain as the three
types of aU the traitorous evil of the world
He drew a long sigh-at least (if among the powers
nimself for naught.
Was there not at least a soft hand in his ? He could
see agamst the snow the outline of a woman's form
beautiful. Once when she turned to guide him. he
could see the stars shine in her eyes, which otherwise
the T^m ^^""^ ^^^""^ ^' *^^ "^^^^ "P°'' *^^ P°°^ °^
Somewhere below there lay the Ferry-house of Beau-
caire What awaited him down in that gulf of black-
ness ? At that moment Yvette nestled closer to him.
He felt the warmth grow and tingle about his heart.
Many things began to dissolve-to alter and change.
Remorse and reproach no longer troubled him. He
heard no more the sound of the solemn singing The
dirge-like music ceased. The empty grave ?-WeD. for
everyone on the face of the world there awaited a grave •
His, surely, could not be more terrible or more dis-
graceful than the rest. Death closed aU. He held by
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 281
that. What was it that the Scripture said? The
words of the Preacher-the man who understood both
wisdom aiid foUy-the way of men with men and
the way of men with a maid ? Like him Jean Cavalier
said m his heart, " As it happeneth to the fool so also
It happeneth to the wise man ! This also is vanity.
J^ or how dieth the wise man ?— As the fool dieth ! '»
^e lights of J.a Cavalerie he had left far behind him
-the httle defenoed houses of the Camisards-honest
seekers after truth, each one of whom would gladly have
laid down their lives for him-the broader splashes
shed from the Temple, through the open doors of which
the songs of Zion pealed across the snow— the stark
emptmess and blank window squares of the gate-
house opposite to his own dwelling, where had
dwelt the fair young Englishwoman and her father, to
whom for a time he had been as a son-aU these he
remembered no more. They passed utterly from him
They were wiped out by the mere proximity of the
woman whose heart was snares and nets, and whose
hands were as bands of steel.
They went down hand in hand. In the stiUness of
the mght Jean Cavalier could hear plainly the beating
of the girl 8 heart, and once as they stood panting on a
ledge her breath came up to him sweet as the sSnt of
dew-wet wallflower on a morn in May.
So the man went on, following his 'fate straightway
as an ox going to the slaughter or a fool to the
correction of the stocks.
It was strange with what sureness of instinct the eirl
found her way. Where Cavalier, indurated and accus-
tomed to mght surprises as he was, could see one yard
she could see ten. ^ '
Not once did she faU or hesitate. Down, down they
went, chnging desperately to stray tree stems or
282
IXOWER-O'-THEOORN.
i
paths. ^ *°°°* *<» s«ek easier
i«».-.hod heel of J:^ C.v2r(n^X"tat'S l'"
companion, who moved eUently « a ,h^ *!! °* "^
P~l. or mef „°fh I" STo "t^g'^t'^f ^Jr^S?
-SSfftin"" i*"' ?^"*** ^'-y "lid her master', work
to h^^a^'l";"-r°" "«"■«'" '» tim and two
»^t r!!b ' '" "'*"' ^'^-^"-bah ! he did not
noft^^hT* ^ *i^*"y ''y "Wch men pa» over
aunoat, but not quite. Still, he might have fleH
ZrknH^ '''P*^ *'*"° I^- The door T^
™°* »°a there was none to open.
• • • « ,
All wa« dark across the watnr «« *>.»- .. j
m^er down there. The wind was still and eiZf
oixr-^rthin^-L^^^i^r^ ^^^-
and^tling like rats amort^::"e^'r.Ta;?'P"«
aen meUow «,d large and full the voice of^vette
Foy passed across to the further shore. "V^ t
FLOWER-O'-THB-COEN. 883
m t^e "oduUted tone. <rf one who .ends a eummo^
to^ Wherd to tnm homew„d toward, the
«ho » dear and loud, that Cavalier himseU started.
He thought wmeone had anawered. But (or a long
mmuto th^ waa no sound. And then he could h^
a(»>os8 the black flood.
hrl'/^l^® ""^"^t ^T'^ '"'''^^ ^y' " ^^^^ ^tii your
boat-hook! Push off there, I teU you ' "
Shrouded forms, the prow of a boat from which
rt^ed away a swirl of phosphorescent light, the
grind of an u-on-shod keel on a sand-bank, th7flaih of
an oar feathering, the fending screech of a mete
F«ng on the rock, and lo ! the boat they had come to
find was waitmg for them.
" My lady I "
"Marquis/"
" He is here— ready to do the King's bidding t »
So Tnthout a word Jean Cavalier stepped ^ng the
servants of the King of Prance, and 1 Jhis claim to be
niMabered among the servants of the Other Kingdom
iJr" ^*lP^^«? «>«• The hills which sheltered
the Camisard legends retreated. The stars looked out
Lanterns began to gleam on the shore to which thev
were gomg. After the first words of greeting no oii
bad ^oken. The oars plashed in the dark water
Sometimes they scraped and rasped on the floating
ice. Then m a moment he realised that having done
her work, Yvette was no longer by his side ! Jean
Cavaher was facing his fate without God and without
^k"" *i?f J°'***- Also without the woman who
had brought hun thither !
i
'f
CHAPTER XXX.
A^n^B OF Sodom.
he had never risen Terr hi.K^^?^' •*" ' '"""equenoe
But he understood T«y^"i!"™.t **?*"'«• ""«••
« pretty woman, or a braTe nt ToVi'.*"*^ •"»*•
pared to do homaee aft«r fw u- f °**® *"* '»» Pre-
So the "BaSrf Ad^' «r..^^' "''««« 'ouid.
higt honou« asThouthT^ ITk™^"** "^th »
M"»h«l of Prance aSd a I^Sf* ^1 '^° » new-made
Montrevel knew ^ j!fm "' f" ^^'» ""ni"-
hatohing against hSft^^'fh^fr" ^^°t*^ '«»
"•nain GeneralisZTof The ^,' 7"''' "°* '«««
Oevemies. But since he hadln ^„' '""T " *^»
» much glory as would se^e Sn !„H?"" •" "*«^'
the woman who with .11 J . , ' ""* *'" a companion
content. ""' ""**• ''« ''as disposed to be
roldt'i^o^tSra'rfT' '^"' • «"'-<•
"id- "I am an old feUow*^i ^^ "'°°™''*'" ''«
apprenticeships, seen many camoatL™ ?T"' "^^
niany fortress walls and „„ ° t ^ *^' ''™''e» down
dowsed with peppe;"^ °TJ ^'^'' "^ «^ »«"
drenched inofll T * ' """* ""**«• ""her than
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
986
When the boat
- ,. reached the other side of the Tarn
Cavaher could see dimly the forms of grenadiers iil
tneir tall peaked caps drawn on either side. In the
darkness he ooold hear the unanimous rustic of ordered
movement as the arms rose to the salute, and f eU acain
to the men's sides.
Near by there was a grove of dark trees— pinei by
the sound of the wind among their branches. For
five mmutes Cavaher threaded aisle after sombre aisle
of these. They descended into a deU, as it had been
an ancient limestone quarry. Here, blazing with light
a tent was pitched. Others less bright and Bay stood
around. ® -^
The Marquis de Montrevel led the way, and what
was the young man's wonderment to see that on the
Marshal s arm there hung, looking tenderly up into
his weather-beaten face— who but Yvette Foy, daugh-
ter of the Camisard innkeeper of La Cavalerie !
The table was spread for supper as they entered.
Servants, attired like the foresters of a great nobleman
and mighty hunter, stood in ordered rows. The grena-
diers of the guard halted at the tent-door. Officers in
splendid uniforms rose to greet their commander-in-
chief. That sturdy veteran conducted Yvette with
grave courtesy to the head of the table. As he stood
for a moment, waiting tiU a little bustie subsided at
the end of the tent nearest to the door, he glanced
down at his companion with pride, and yet with an
appreciation of the situation more than half-humorous
There was a proud smile of triumph on her beautiful
dark face. And it was poor Jean Cavalier's thought,
the rat of a useless remorse gnawing meantime at his
vitals, that never woman looked so beautiful.
The Marshal raised his hand and commanded silence
with a gesture at once large and gracious.
886
%
WiOWER-O'-TBB^JOWr.
4^" mrKTjr'w.^^'r"'' "^ «»
«de.," he «Ud, " IpS^t ^y "^ "y good ooa.
thjlfarqui.. de MonfC?" *" 7™ "y »»*. M.d«ne
WhMenpon he sat down and orfewd in f i,
YFette was seated on biTriLhtT^ ""' '<""?•
an overwhelmed a^aBtuTJ^iv^"?' ""* «""»«««,
flood of emotion. foJ^d^J^?' \^? ^f "d the
astonished, ahnost i^^t t^Z tSTtS" '**• ^ "~^
to wait upon him M«>;nVk- j.^^**^'«'tdetaaed
hi. *oX „d ;Si^' j^!^^.'^<J • hand o1
compulsion. '^ <»> h» chair with a gentle
yXt h'ad^^sLrrsrr tn ^^'^ "-•
-ord of a woman wittT WnTttlr'" "*■•'
the oarMstog hand, the pouti^ linr!.^!!*"?* »y»'
tiyuig them on another Th. "P^there she was
for him , What a f:Sl hSTeer^*" "" °*'« »-
seen :o'S■^br^:■^ ^-f^'. »ho " «»-» had
was confounded bv thT^,t- ' «ate-house alone,
the tinklingTwZr** ^"""« »' 8la«s «,d silver
'"kards. the ^^d ofX^?^.?*" '''^
coming and goimr of serv.nl ""J°™«- *>"» constant
Uveries. EvfnX detS^f t^ f "Sr"*"" " Say
atrange to him, and he .te ^at^^ ""T" ""
mechanically, or more ofteTjt ft JTi. ^ P'*<»
The Mar&hal an nU • "'"'"y ™touohed.
world. pcrh.^''di^",i:^rS t^ "^ "' «•«
fc^, left him p^2::it^TzT!iZ^''
nim once or twion f^' t^..^* i ^**"'"» oQiy piedginflr
tion of •■ Monl^ J?'.'°™ ' '^'' "^ '^ ^S
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
M7
Yvette never 80 much as glanced at him. Thebuild-
I^J"f/r?!2''Tx: ^«"°»ff°»di°« might come down
^t^iJth .f J^if «* ^ *^"* «reat military mess
tent, with the high officers of the King's Household
tr(K)ps about her, eager yet cool, ready with her smiles
and her banter, equal-and more than equal— to that
occasion or any other. And her husband watched her
with not a httle pride.
To his chosen confidant, Stephen Leroux, paymaster
of the troops m the High Cevemies. who came and
i?on fi^' *^u.^^ ^" whispered, in an expansion
of confidence. whileYvette was engaging half-f-dozen
in talk at once. What a wife for an old campaigner
bke me! Eh Leroux ? No dull dumps V^Z
house ! I might have married, had i been a fool a
chit from the semmary, with a rabbit face and the
manners of a frightened governess. But see the little
one holding her own. Did you ever hear anything
Leroux looked down at his general along the side
ZJT^T\'^^^- ^ ^^^^^y *1"^"°^ expression, but
Tf . K J"* u ^"^ "" ,T^^ agreement. He wondered
If the Marshal would like this badinage of Yvette's
quite so much m a few years. To him it did not seem
quite— housewifely, he would have said.
But after aU it was not his business, but that of the
?J"Tt ^'"^' ^°^ "^^^ '""'^ ^'^^ better soldiers
than Nicholas de Baume had made fools of themselves
about just such a woman. The dinner drew to a close
with the clewing of aU the fragments down to the
farther end of the table, where the soldier-servants
and officers of the Marshal's household proceeded forth-
with to regale themselves, as was the jovial custom of
the Commander-in-chief of the Cevennes, while those
at the upper end drew more closely together, and
988
FLOWBB-O'-THE-OORN.
drank in great bumper, to the health of the Kiiur tn
T T." ^*°^y » somewhat etrange eioeriMiM L
J~n Cavalier to find hlm«Jf on ^ S^to4~
•lood snooeesfuUy m arms. However, he had ^
tun on the rtoulder hnmediately after, and «ud. " Z?
«rj^rf you are ready, we wiU proceed to fink o^
"You will excuse me." he said "T i»-^^
mat^ to^ange with this. myTlg l^ w^
hMbeen good enough to eaoort my'wifeto our^p , °
Whereupon the company, both soldier, and s^L
row, and with a mighty unanimous cbtter of w^'
^ose bUde. met in an arch over the Ub^^Z^
r!T«'f">,«™tohiswife. Jean CavXtlSweS
behmd, his head bowed, and his soul i^thtoSm
mere sackcloth and ashes. °™
a.^' T!f '^. °"* °' *^« «"«^. but had not far to
go ttrough the pinewood before they came to the Wd
ya«l with tall winter^tripped trees like sentinSs b2«
ordered rhythm and movement of regular trooDS-th«
foo ts^ to a second, the bayonet Z-rcTor^^*
•n just so many movements. Guards lined thTM;
proaches, standing near enough for him to seT ev»
m the dm. light, the round s^Ss of light mTdeT^ S
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
880
of their buckle
Marshal
a ohair,
buttona, and the whiter splotches
gaiters.
"And now, General CavaUer," said the
after he had motioned the young man to
what have you to say to me ? "
Jean Cavalier was a young man and a brave man.
whioH u "" ^T' ^^^"^ ^^^ *^*^ ^y * temptation
which older and more experienced men might have
escaped. At aU events they would certainly have sold
themselves for a higher price m a better market. But
whatever had been the bitterness of his disappointment
\7S^ 1^7 ^^ ^^^'^ revenging it upon the woman. '
.# *K '. I ^"s^e^'ed, looking straight into the eyes
of the sturdy old soldier of King Louis, " it i for you
to speak to me. This lady at your rigb hand has
u^OTmed mo that it was your wish to sec me. I am
J' I am given to understand," said the Marshal,
that you wish to put an end to the war by surrender-
ing to the clemency of the King ! "
"Not to his clemency, but to his justice!" said
Cavaher, boldly.
The old soldier shrugged his shoulders.
"I presume." he said, " that you did not come here
to dispute with me about words. You desu-e to end
this war So. I may admit, do h You. on your side
cannot fimsh it by hacking to pieces a priest or two
taken at random among the villages. Neither can we
make of the Cevenols good subjects of the King by the
rough dragooning of the Cadets of the Cross. The
question is, ' WTiat then ? ' "
"This lady has informed me." CavaUer adhered
to the formula, finding a certain satisfaction in it
that m return for a cessation of the war in the coun-
tries of the Cevemies, the King would grant freedom
19
"0 ft/iWEn-O'-rBB-COTOt.
ilta to r^.T'^u'''; ^"^ P«™" ■"• P-ot^fnt ob-
ject, to Mrre in the foreign wm. where we oouU hJt
prove our devotion to hi. person •• ^'
hi^''fln"""'*' •"^'''"^ ^""«'' -' " ""> -t beside
^h "/^'^ V'^ "' '»'• "hioh feU from the wWe
embroider«i collar which she wore-every .titoh of it
herown work for indeed she was no slug^aA "
what :^^ ,"'"■■ ",""'*.*'^ P"«y ^^ hath -ome.
What exceeded her instructions. Even I cannot pro-
^rms which I do not believe that I c^n persuade the
K^ to agree to. It i, true that his M.j'^ty is tired
of th» pet y war, which, without consuming ,4ny m«
or bemg of international importance, yet IwL u°
"rful ragunent. and (nere he coughed), if I m«
«y^«,_some of the best omce.. his Ljesty poL^
ooSl!!^" *'' "•" '""'"• "=^'"3 '» the Marquis to
" l^^L^ ^" P"""''° y^"'" he »aid, after a oause
that the Kuig will accept your servce, that he ^
r"^ frscrcHb'"/ *iJ ""' '""P' y™ "« 'we^
raise tor s. rvice abroad. He wUl also remove th« ««
oX Wl!". "^ "«"«"y -"."ocessrul torLfo^;
orfer m the Cevemies, and he will grant youTfrS
^" "^P"'"" » ""tters religion. ! '• ^ °^
., ^t do™ that mean ? " said Cavalier, brusquely
Go^f:^St''r-"°"""« '° ""^ ---- ''e
im^tienc?"^ "' "°'""^^' -^•'« » -^"t -*- of
Shc.^so^rnoV:y-ai^;bt^5
FLOWBR-O'-THE-CORN. 291
So are all officers and true servants of the King. So is
Madame de Maintenon."
He smiled somewhat more broadly.
"EspeciaUy Madame." he said again, with a smack
of his hps as if relishing the flavour of wine.
"Now it is not to be supposed," he went on. " that
the King and Sergeant Pouzin on guard outside there,
chief treasurer Leroux and the Maire of the viUage
my wife and Madame at VersaiUes, aU agree in theb
hearts as to the nature of the Deity, or concerning the
proper use of incense, or the rights and wrongs of the
Port Royal Catechism (which, by the way. few of us
have ever read). Nevertheless we are aU Catholics-
good Catholics-that is to say, of the K^rjj's reUgion—
without fear and without reproach. J - relative, the
late M. de Montaigne, hath said something to a kindred
effect, but in fitter words than I.
Now it is not to be imagined for a moment that
the most royal son of St. Louis is not better informed
ooncermng these great matters (especially considering
that he hath the valued assistance of Madame de Main-
tenon, widow of M. Scarron of happy memory) than a
parcel— pardon the word— of Genevan pastors and
Cevenol herdsmen, who have only charged their own
consciences with the solution of the problem ? You
follow me ? "
Cavalier bowed his head without answering. The
General's Gallio phrases grated on him ^.-^rge than the
oaths and revilings of the partisan. He was too simple
to understand irony.
"So," continued the Marquis, more gravely, "it
amounts to this, that I can promise you liberty of con-
science, but not liberty of proclaiming that conscience.
You will then have as much freedom as I— I am not
always able to declare my own beliefs. It is a good
308
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
-' T^r*f \'*,/T "" '"^ ^^"-"^g^ thrice your a«e
do3 *?f ^^enne« are pacified," said Cavalier, his
buZ^"lT.r*r^ f' ''^"^'^y - ^ ^i^e cute
better wiU the chapels and temples be put down ?
we of ter>!"l P""'^ '^'^^ ^^^'^ retu^ ? sTaU
tlat li H ! i" ^' dragooned into attending a worsl^
tLat we detest, upon the pain of death or exile ? » ^
vourG^odinT/^'' *^^* ^'" '^"" ^^ able to worship
You Sill V ""^ '^^^' '° ^°°8 *« '^^ ^«Pl^y is made
vou^d K Tif°"^ P^'*^'^' ^^° «haU dwell among
you and break bread with you. More I camiot pri
mise as an honest man and a servant of the KW . »
" M " slid .r^M " f ;^ ^""^"^'' "«^g to his feet,
if ^-11 ' . ^ *^® Marshal, his face falling. "I trust
SThemlr'^^''^*. My reign here is Lrly o'er
If the matter is not finished now, the wind that is
tHese mountains before many months are over I
than thaf I TJ'!^^ ' '^^ "^'^ °^ ^^ -« 4 otiier
than that ! But the man who comes after me wS
l^ sarandT "It" I"' ^°" ^^^ hearthsto^
nalm of u T^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ^^^nnes bare as the
palm of my hand, without inhabitant, as a l^d
whereto never man came ! "
During this speech Yvette for the first time raised
"I have a letter to write, very urgent," he said- «T
pray you bear my wife company till my rUurn Pa;don
the discourtesy. I shaU no^ ke^ep you b^rwait^'^^^^
Wj^^m:^^^swM^'^m^.^^^^m^m
CHAPTER XXXI.
Jkas Cavalier's Last Temptatioit.
Wvm a bow and a 8mUe he weU out, and Jean Cavalier
was left once more alone with Yvette Foy nlcM
regarded him long and steadily from under'^her I«h^
Had the sceptre indeed departed from her ' wL
her power utterly gone ? It seemed likeT forTh^
man never so much as glanced at her. But tho« who
woman, know that the daughters of thfa worid
A £ .»H r '"".'° '"' "° *«»'''«''ok this tiJ°
At last, when she thought the time was ripe Yvette
broke ,t speaking in a voice in which sadne^ ml^^
with the compulsion of tragical fate. *
"th«f 7 „°°* "^Hyoo to forgive me." she murmured.
i^^^L.rT^"^ '"• ^ "'^y "^^ yo" to believe
that If there has been any deceit, it was not of mv own
ohoosmg. I did aU for the best. I was sw^ t^
^ri '®?° r""*^ "'*''"' to ''here in an an^
-^m the steady murmur of a voice told that tt
Marshal was dictating his despatch.) "He made me
promue never to reveal our marri.ge-to keep it
even from my own father. For hi. ,L I haveTne
294
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
upon her shanelv h.!^ ^^ ^ ^^"'P '^"^« ^own
w^d„; ts.tr. £: sr " ""•- "^"^ -■'
thiiur ebo n„. • ™f' ™- * do not deserve any-
&vL h^l°°* '^ *° ""^ ''•"'" o-^ would.
heart i^brrn^b^otni" '"' *" ■»<-'»'»' -y
moved E™? ^T^ ■""■ '^^^ "<" "ow «> easUy
fMved Even your Yvettes can only do such thi^Z
tmoe at moBt^that ie, and succeed "«'
reflected in a Trf«u^ s^^° *' "^"^; ^<» ^vette
that ia only^riS !?,"^ "Tf *■"* * *»«^«
dou^«ul oHanoe.pry.t^^Xtn'tSn^'-wi^
It had been far from uninteresting. She had Z\^
people by ruling the rulers, and the'final"oJt^
^
-2*«fe.v ti^
^, t^WRC.^.
;***ijfrj*
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 296
?l?7 M™ *^/°^ °^a° standing in the quarters of
chLhr'^''fwf ^°"i'«^^l-i° l^er own husband's
chamber, with the guards doubled without and the whole
camp on the alert through the long winter's night.
rruly If any woman had a right to think weU of her-
self It was Yyette de Baume, Marquise de Montrevel,
sometmie caUed Yvette Foy, late of the auberge o
the Bon Chretien m the Camisard village of La Cavalerie.
Like a flash of hghtning the anger passed sudden-
white across her face. « Sir," she said. " you may
thank your gods that I brought you here. You have
come to the house f a man who knows how to deal
honestly. You are offered such terms as will never be
given to you again. From me you shaU have no more
pleading, no more humbling of myself. If you have
anythu^ agamst me. go with your complaint to my
husband. He is without there. What I have done,
1 have done. He will answer for me ! "
" I have nothing against you," said Jean Cavalier
more gently than can be beUeved, " nothing against
any, save only myself." k****""
It may be set to the smaU credit of Yvette Foy (to
fw"?!-^^ ^^'^l^^ ""^^"^ «*^« '^ ^^^ remembered)
that at this pomt she gave vent to a slight and genuine
" I am sorry," she murmured, and for once she was
not acting a part or thinking of an effect
By a sudden flash of intuition she seemed to see the
young mail's career as it might have been, and also
as she had made it. But in an another moment the
impulw had passed and Yvette Foy once more thought
only of herself and her plottings. She controUed hewelf
m^tently puttu^ so foolish a thing as compassion
II
"f^'^mMji^mi^ii:,
206
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
i'i
• ll
wiU end the war. Ue^^^n k ^° "" ^"^ ""* ^
blood shed bv brother I ^ ^. °° "">«• ''""'ei'.
"hall eee the kT^SLu Zt^^l'^^" *»' ?»»
word which myTJS':;^', ''"' "' ^ ""'^^ ^-^o
saidk'x "^wrbi^" 'T ^^''^^ " -•'•
" a soldier of the lW to t W " ^.''"°''- ^ '^ *«
no more worthy to kS"^^* ^'^^^- ^ "'*«<«' ^ «"
"Ah a!! I ™® P®»P'» "» the day of battle "
of th1^^'° "' "^''^ ''^ 8H with a ^dight o^e
Bhal waa sfffl 5.^^^^ "^"T '^ ""* ^^ "«-
didnotpauaeorkoZ^^T"*^- »«Montreyel
door-a Vm^n otnLnt-; t^.f7 "^"^ "^^
?G:^.»Tati:^l^/°J-^wh4
^^r^p-^orof^^Hr?
Cavalier turned about and saw Yv«tf!\7^ •
^e parage. The light of the Z J';^^^ '^^^l "^
her right hand stream«H ^« ^ I ®^® *^®^*^ "^
hair !:Sd pale beanS„e^°™ "^" '^' '"'"^'"«*
Ki!;r^ "^^ '"'y ''"^ ''"^ by the soldie™ of the
r?.^. *-?l&^'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 997
herself the weaker vZ \t^^^' "^^r ^nce she felt
or even ^^X IZfZ I^e^t"^! """'*"'
peasant soldier ^ * °^ **^® y°"°g
.he medit^td 4e So dall'™"^'" *""' "<'"'»•'»
she irresiatihl^^ i> j ^ "''^ ^"^ a«itude that
mo.e„t^ .,,,,^rt:^t.^ ^fCu ;a -
Yvette stood lookina at T*.aT, n ,™ P'^ased.
" I would speak with you a moment," he said " T
may never thus meet with you aeain Y™f^
by your choice out of my worid Tiin, . ™ *^''"''
and at.U you pUinly) iL^'fo J rn^Se"""!
never thought to love any woman_thus-S I saw vou
I had consecrated myself to God and His service IW
(as I thought) brought the flesh into subje^Z Ih^
vow^^ and felt myself strong to pay-Stte iyl
He did not take his eyes from the girl's face H.
spoke not in ang-y denunciation, bnt^wrth a certat
"^ed sadness, almost sweet in its intonaLr
a ^T ^t "'" T'""' ^ ^°"^. b"* she did grow
208
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
-peaking of that to youTshSlZfn "^ "" fu"°" "
I.». right to know," she slid *'"' ""'^ """ '"<•
first and iLt^? hi tlirt .^"* ''""'""° "» *"»-<»«■
^^„ a last, he said. "You might have left me
she'tr""" '*"^- " ' *'' "»' -»» "y k-band,"
:;M.o_^t^,_;.oried the young man.
f^"e-rr5£SiSfS
^no7h, »rt "• ^"'"S P''^» of tte feast I
you shall hear from me. In a mnnH, r .? ii u \7***
a «!J» *^ ^"^ "*"* "P *» bi™ «>d took his hand With
a swrft mapulsire movement she lifted it to toli^
KLOWEB-O'-THE-CORN.
an
wve God thanks for your escape from me "
blmdly stumbling 1 Zt^^ ZZ wtt '^"*
.or^^^^-^e'nrd'"----^
and Jean CavaUer's It^ „ w,: ^Z "'^hTt^e
»J com^ot^"' ''°"''""' ''" '"'™'''»-' '°rth With-
u
CHAPTER XXXII.
Days Tb4t Come \ot Twiob.
within the ZZf^Tyi^^"^ °' "','' «"»'»«*
opposite heights of thT^fLe Nofr ™- " ".**
black rocks perch th« ' ^ . j f * ""ong whose
Veran, the th.^ other L!^^'.'"'""^ °' Saint
tinned to, eadT,^*VPS«^ °' "" '^'"'^ --
wiaestabhshing'r^::,^*:^,-:.'^"'^' *«""«'™
open attach -potZir'Tra^^'i^-? "T
th.a then- generalissimo, as we knowW » ^u" *°
of another solution of the dm^T^' ^ ""« ""opes
aUlus energies tow^tectS^^^' "" '^''«
wftL" t^^^rhZe 'r;7:r ™, ■"'' '^-'••
^rx-rrth-- ------ -
Ail three of them had that rare gift of detachment
:j-<f"i;r
»r*-..^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
301
of the thingg of iteelf ^ *^® °'°"'°^ *»ke care
MarahaU he oiganised the fi^l,^ , «««tance of BiUy
"ectjng rough* butltX^ttmr 1"" '^''««
bonldere, digging trenoh^T. ? "« "» mattered
behind. anTe,LZ X dr„ t ■^'' "««»»'
the cattle and eheep^f 1^' tn '' "'"* '"' "''•«''
time of closer siege «*" """» '"bsist in
pr.l^ed'JJ^'th'fut^'otratceT'""^ "---"l »<»
words of fire Cn^Z^T^\r^''^ •"«» '««'•'
curious oongregationTiffitant A^T- ^^ *»*
to morning and evening wo«Wn 5^""".''''° o*"'
sides and guns in thethlnST r !" V ''^ ""*"
(«.metimef with mo^hs ^t', te'!".'^.''!'^ °P» »"
appeab, ringing like the t™L * ut ''™' t^nohant
ohaplain charging ^tT^t°' "^ ""o battle, its
y^^^ gmg nrst m the van after Sir Archibald
And Flower-o'-the-Com ?
Naturally she was more beantir..! *i,
thing sweet, innocent and T^7 ^'' "^'- So"*-
Of '^rr^Xr^tt^tCrhought n.„ch
■words. Maurice had fSfilW i!- *'"' *PP*«" » the
ing out the landing rfXf.nd ^T'^r » »ny-
patch, «> he frit L«^^ f-K J^'"^8 '"'"'^ a des-
mmself at liberty to await further
J
4.t^h?'*
302
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
8tlc^ wo^H^t wa^-orders which in present oiroum-
Patriorw 11 ;il! ^°°^\diffi°^ty in reaching hiT
n«^*K^ ^anoe»-weU. it was yet the first days of a
lov^^dl''". 1'^ """^ '°"^^ ^ -^-"^ l^r ~^
womairr ''^°"' *'** "^** ^ *^-« --e for any
Much more, verily ! But the very vounff rand fh.
vary much in love) do not think of 7 ^ ^ ^^ *^'
longed for the fleshpots of KeltonhiU Fair With I
kind of second-sight the mnsv saw f}.« i
whimTh« 1«. * scattered among the broom «id
after tZ' •"" r''*','"<J 1^ «>"1 longed exceedingly
hL L^ ^ ■" °' """^P* ^°^*^ indefinitely before
Since the cutting of tlie cable there had been no direct
commumcat.on between the Camisards of toe (Cl
been excIaLHT,*^^ previously .greed upon, had
hn !T «'°*'*'^' '•y "'^»™ of blankets waved
^ve that the brethren of the Way still held their o™
on one Causae and the other
eJt^f,!^^ other wars on his eastern and south-
eastern frontiers would end. The released armies wouU
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN. an
bt poured over th* Cevennes from «U ndM fh- k
upon the throne of F™^ ^'°" *"' ' ^°"''«'> «'
Jm rfMo'n^feta"",^"^ :'""\l* '^•" ^"^^ "»« "ed-
dayttoe the Zeral 1 7 M°"*''-U»«' «°<i in the
including vWto™fo„^f ^' "^''''''K "' *•■» ''"ily.
over w.yB™7m;ar Ctf^ "^ "^^^Wed talkulg'
cor iri"^-- "-"^^^^^^^^^
th« nM ^^r /^'"'-Privaoy was respected by aU 8av«
tloTd^t r^aVl-d ^a^^^r^T?
K^ of sooi;; t\i'^rr^roo^^^.
ine ain of sinful oonfoimito " " ti, • ."^'"n.
the Malimanta "_" th. T^^ .~ . "" ""•'"ion of
oovenS"t,~_ L P!.^""!' »f Cejs to an Un-
a <m«t .,.rf • u f. *"'* "™''»'' phrases played
was acourtomS^rtnT":^ Z'^ !!f""'«^
804
PLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
4
'^
b« owned ihe displayed an astonishing activity and
directness of method, never weighing or measuring any-
thing, but, like aU bom cooks, doing everything by
rule of thumb and the inner Ught which is genius,
Madame Montbeliard had conserved a little green plot
to her heart, where Love still gambolled and made sport
Not for herself but for others was this "square of
pleached green "—for never was matron more devoted
to her bald and middle-aged husband. And now this
pleasaunce belonged by right of trover to these agree-
able young people, Maurice and Frances.
So among other good and kindly deeds. Madame
Montbeliard undertook the task of diverting the stream
of ecclesiastical instruction upon herself, and by dint
of a French translation of an old Nuremburg Catechism
(which had belonged to her father-in-law) she was able
to propound a host of difficu? questions, and even to
obtain the reputation in the eyes of Patrick WeUwood
of being " the most acute and subtle theologian— for
a woman," he had ever met. And this was no smaU
praise from a man who had so long lived in Geneva
where the very babes uj long clothes lisp systems of
divmity, and where outside the window of his mistress
the orthodox lover sings to the night airs a psahn of
Jean Cauvin instead of a chanson by that other very
extraordinary Huguenot, M. Clement Marot.
Behind the friendly double curtain, then, Maurice
Raith and Frances compla'santly pursued their own
affau^, even as many others had done before them—
and a few since. Their talk is no concern of ours. It
was neither more learned, more extraordinary, nor
more impersonal than the talk of lovers has been ever
since the worid began. It is not on the record— the
words in the original Hebrew do not literaUy warrant
the translation, but from the context it is evident that
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
eyei you have i" To which she repUed. droppina
oonaoioui lidi, " Do you think so f »» cropping
it tTwK ■*"? !u ^^u*^ ^°°« *" *^* '^^ Woweth where
itnjjteth and the heart of man moveth within him
Mainly, however, Maurice was tellinff Plower-o»-th«
^m .bout R.ith-it, old grey mS T:^ t,
«nJI-p^ed wmdow. in the thiotne.a of the w.U
*T^ u ? would have enlai^ed for her drawing-room
the d.f.,h.oned trimne« of the clipped garden thi
teU wmdy oak. and beeohe. of the rook^.S ^h^^h
at eve and mom aU the year round thereTime a mw
hke the Burf breaking on a sandy ahore. ^^
MeanwhUe, upon the other aide of the chamber
ne««r to the fire (which theae two young peopirhTd
1.M need of), behold the theologian,! a\«^ ba^.
ourtam diut them off. So alao did the m^^e p™
portiona and exuberant morning-robe of good Madame
Montbehard. The Reverend Patrick waa at t^!
moment attacking a particuhrly InoUy poin^
nothmg lea. than the Nature and AttributeaTJS
tJ^^^ WeUwood apoke high and vehement as to a
r I;Sr^* ?• ^ °™ oalibn^which in itaelf waJ
no amll oomphment. Madame Montbeliard, her
embroidery on her lap. .poke not at aU. but only
looked up and nodded good-humouredly at criS
St ^i^' "t't ""^ "y " .unity/intimat; a
Sfr« ^ /. '^^^^ "' *"' ^^^ <»• • questioning
glM.ce out of her black beady eyes. ^^
handT"li**'' ""'^ ** ''"'°'» "P"^" >"''' with ol^ped
hands, leanmg one toward the other like stooka rf
90
30«
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
com in a harvest field. The loud sound of disputation
reached Flower-o'-the-Corn through her half-closed
eyes hke the very clang and clatter of the rookery at
Raith of which Maurice ' id just been telling her She
was wondering if, as he said, it should be her lot to
have that cawing turmoil awake her in the dawns for
the greater part of her life, and what she would be
thinking of then.
A sharp knock came to the door. Flower-o'-the-
Com sat up suddenly with immense dignity. A blush
vivid as a damask rose flooded her cheeks. The dis-
tance between herself and Maurice increased aa imper-
ceptibly .nd mysteriously as that which grows between
the shore and a voyager gazing over the parting vessel's
stem.
Upon BiUy Marshall's entrance Maurice stood up
with a quickly darkening brow. " What do you want
here ? he said, with all the brusqueness of a lover
whose tSte-a-tSte has been interrupted.
The gipsy saluted with hie own slow self-respect the
true GaUoway doumess, which passes not away With
the centuries, and which strangers find so aggravating
Maister Maurice," he said, " I hae bode wi' ye m
lang as Bet and me can bide. This year I maun be
back on the Rhone-house braes by the day of Kelton-
hill, and Bet maun gang wi' me. Miokle sorrow wad I
hae to leave behind me you an' the bonny doo there at
your ncht hand. I saw your twa heids closer thegither
as I cam' up the 8treet>-an' 'deed, what for no ? I
mmd weel when me an' Bet— ow, aye, I'U gang on wi'
my story richt eneuch— gin your honour pleases
»
bidden here as lang as I am gaun to bide. If ye winna
HY'^;
-'^istrc^^^jm:
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 307
let us gang, we wull juist hae to Uk' fk. .^ j
to «^«t f '*''^ ^*"^°^ "^^'^^y' " that is not the wav
to speak to your superior officer ' " ^
Mx-an'-twentieth. ^' what's ,^^ i ■theauld
ne sudden fervour of BiUy's tones interrupted the
flow of controversial divinity by the S^ -^^
" Dinna, minister, dinna ! " he cried • " r.n- « u u
on't, for ffuid-sake Tf»a «« weened, pit a halter
speak ye IS^' f L '''' ^^^^ *° ^« 1«™- I'U
ser^ hi!^ « u ^""'^ ""^ too-faithfuUy hae I
crnL^h«^' ^/\T ^^y-' b"* Keltonhm fLt
canna be missed amther year, neither for m^ter n^
" Wherefore do you speak of leaving this haren of '
^ntre^rnt " ''^^^ ^^"^'^V^'^l^-
no"Jr7inti;n^^e^t'a;r.e''^ t' "^^ ''"
tskU tYMx AA ^ iearea learned man. thev
voJtr^ T! °'^"' ^"" *^" «' KeltonhiU FarS^
your travels athwart the wori.^ « " "i" ran- in
Jnl^'^r*^ .*° '"^ ^^^^ I ha^« heard th. name »
said the chaplain; "'tis one of those^rLTlu
profane and the ungodly which IrlT TT °^ *^*
in our native countTThrre J^^^ T^'^"
-%ar mirth takeYh^lST: :;1rat':otX? ^.^
308
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
'« '
and oonverMtion, which alone are in «soord with the
teachings of the Westminster divine, as eip«Jed
'^pZ^^'""' »' ^^'^ -•» Catechisn^^S
"There's some gye queer nuiks and comers i'
Westminster, sir," said Billy, shaking his heT .'I
hae had my bfllet there-that was Itfore Bet w
oot to me. Faith an' ye hand up Westminster for
M example o' sobriety, I'se back Keltonhill Fairaeato
•t ony day. Man, even the Tinkler'. Knowe is^^^
bytery compared wi' it ! " ^
of f ]i'^^^! °°^ °i *^. '^*y °^ Westminster, the suburb
of the great and Babylonish town of London." said the
ohaplam, "but of the venerable company of divined
that for a time sojourned in that place Ld^rec^T^
most^ wonderful monument of human wisdom in the
mil3!' °*' ^T*^''" ^^ Billy. « there ye are again
s^'s h"T~ '>^° "* Westminster that the Monii^
stans. but awa» doon by the waterside at the pJe
they caa Bdhnsgate-an.' Lord, but the tonguL o»
the randies there are hard to bide. Hoosomev!^. Bet
wasna wi' me. as I say-and. faith. BiUy M^^hdl
wasna blate at answerin' them back ! » ^""^^U
Jri M^^J^,,*"^ ^^"^^ *° misunderstand each other."
Baid Mr. Wellwood. smiling. « But. as I take it Tis
your desire to depart out of this place in order to be
PgI::^^ ^^^^^*^- ^ ^^- °- -^- --
"Dinna oaa Keltonhill Fair a festeevity, man as if it
lie what ye micht see amang thae beniohted haythen
men and ban^is, no to speak o' common Eeriih fowk
there, and m.ir horses than wad reach to JoCy
FLOWER-0».THE-CORN
309
to CM thelikn* tt^ ^ at every third .tep-and
PaHck BMW !^ ' ""wnible feateevily !»
right h^dWhT?h:°" *°i'' ''^'- "'«' "f'*" hi,
ai with yoT^ ,*d ""■.•TtH* »»'«T "^*- " I
oaUedtorematoMdZakunfi^- °"«^' *""" ^ ""
few in this nlaoTw),?. . "^ P^°P'°- ^ut I we
if this bTt™ wlteh T°°' P"P"^ *° *«' "tiUt,
plumbed in mine o™ knd I r^'^^^* /«» *<> ^
elear in my heart tL„, } ^*™ * °^- '* ™8'
Word in ofher^es abTl^'rwrn't^ ^"^"^ *'"
staff in hand and overp^ " ' '"" *^^ "^ P*^""
" What's your wttU ? " gasped the mystified BiUv
bL 1?"*°'' "'f ^-^P*' "PO" Keltonh^! " ^■
he cried " Prea^on teitonSir^' 1^^^ ' "
S^^i^tt f^ ^£1^1— ?«^"'^-^'
doon avnnf *k xL P^ °y *^® reprobate Banville
aoon ayont there, throw vourapl' inf^f *i, *"vuie
Ck>'en heuchs, but keeoVr ^ f ^ ,^ '"* *^ **^«
^e^«.ef^. T^aL"ani:::m?e":t^J:*«
Sa^^y^^^discri'^----.-;'^
I
a;/A;aM:\;l»-i^»lfc^
310
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
BaUway " existed for sending S™^d S,^n!^""°^
out of the Cevennes. ""» P*'""™ """» thmgs m and
On the Sabbath Patrick WeUwood preached wh.*
cannot be hid " a^d tf n7 V "'Y "*' "P™ » "^
God who stillAH *^^ c4. ..""»" ^^® "re, but the same
fln^J^Tfi ^^ ^^^''^'^ ** Meribah and was as a
flame of fire round about His people on HoreHf^v,
waters of theRedSea,and by the b^roo^cf^l"' *^^
do so for your sakes, and more also As tht^ ' ^
to me the gift of seeing. I decCS you th^'^f ^'''''
a httle and his hand shall be shortened • jw" k
ever, ye must be toied as by fire^7ve Z?f'
forth out of ti,^ *, ^ ' ^ y® ^"^ oome
orsn out of the furnace seven times heated as ffoH
tnat u MTen times refineH ti.j^ • ^^^ as gow
fare ye weU I » ^^' ^^ » °»y ^^t word, and
Upon which there ksued a sound of weeping t^^g},
<10WER-0'-THE-C0BN.
311
•Utt. o^Sregat. a women «,bbtog without retrain*
berauw of hw declaration tliat he should nev«1»e
>^ Even the cheeks o£ the men were not whoUy dT
m.6n he said. " Verily, hear what I .peak I l«^e
given to me the meaeage that is not mme own aad ate
«U only do that which I have spoken unto^iu ".^
"""J? »°»'"» as well-watered gardens "
8„Sl*L'"*'' ^^y,*" ""' •"« »P»ke to them of
to ttl^ri,T 5 *''t •»^'«^. who had bee^put
And in a comer Prances Wollwood sat on a stool
with Maunce Raith standing erect beside her ^ere
we toujs m the young man's eyes, because of his to™
and for those sweet first days that should be no more
«nd also, et us beUeve, because a woman may in sJdi'
things make of a man what she will,-not, it^m"y be
m the matter of beUef, but certainly in ^nd^cTand
the reverence which comes with sympathy
rhese two went out together, and as they f oUowed
Uie dusky Ime of the Temple waU Flower J.tte!^„
put her hand upon the young man's arm.
Maunce, you have loved me here, where there ai-e
but wJl ,t be the same when you are once again the
favounte of my Lord Duke 1 " "
^^nf^K-^'r"""* °* ' '<"' "^^ I"* heard, "yon
eannot think it^you cannot dream it ? Was I Lt
<ny lords secretary, almost his companion, before I
rnvrioT^y^r.' ^^-''- -/woman" J
312
FLOWER-0'-THE-00»N.
me is J' "'"LT'" "!."'* '^^'r. "look .t
a few rooms in it ari habrtabk w.^"^"""' """^
r ^p;.feJ7^7.r f^.- ~'^
DeTorU ShTl-iiT'"^-':^''^ "^^^ "^^ de« Aunt
sk^«oi.«. /e .i^rugirr-.-^^^' "
.he S.C^"'^^°X*rt^ teepon loving n.e."
uxuxcu. iina atter a silence she addfwl « j«^
dona get tired of idling me of it. puJet » ' ^"^
CHAPTER XXxuij
Thb Rbsin-Gathebeb's Hutj
iw' H«l *«" '""^ among the Marehis of
habit and S««ot!^'°°"' '^ ""°"' " *"=""'»-' "^
r e^^rf th?r"K- ";""«*'°" °' Saint Veraf Z
(™^^o„s) code of W:td!^^n^.r
sS.t V^l:^ ""* '"^^"*'' •" HowerK,--th^Com in
De^Monlv^T^'T,!'' 'u ™ ^""^y characteristic of
*at*'rs'',::^ow trte- *^« ^^j-^-.
vet TiATTo- * ^^ ^^® possessed it. and
tha?^'tl,r±' '?"*' ""* ''"'^y «*«"«• behind
«>a. wary aU-measonng eye with the twinld* coming
i
h I'
314
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ooncealed by the figure broad set rdiorou^r^^^^^^
of a merchant captain, a vast knowlellt^dTli^i.f
expenence of men and things. wX^tn 'r^^.
Tanity the man was Belf^ntaiTjd TuftV ^'^ °^
Wmself and to his business ' ^°'^°* ^*^
It may be questioned if there was any one in Fr«nn
(save a certain lank and ranMlv «. • , f France
aoonrately sum ud and «««!» ti.. •. , .^ °">"
nnparauied sove^n !^rt '^ ?"" ".the great and
it. Hedid„„t™r^.'^~4°tifhtfr7'
generaUy overehot his oto mwk ^n u 5? •"*
suffer from disappointed ambiti^ "'""* ^ ^ "»'
of &'"'lt°°:^'^'^'' «««» *ting to be a Marshal
Wen X h»H • T *.*«°"y "ortt retiring upon
weu, ne had m ins time paid onnrf t^ t •
and carried hi, weather-b^n ZL J^Z'^'h
humorous twinlde into ladi«.> ^^ oatmi
hadhadagreatfamiSy^thetn*""?^.. ^«
de Moutespan, and he taew^^b^ftTtK^'^r
'^i^?^F^.
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
316
r^nnf ^ T^ *''~" * ^~^« «»d honest m«
T^Ar^^ °^ °°^^^ "^d sycophants.
So at the end of all Nicholas de Baume was mde«d
OMpoaer of the simles of the Khg The MarrfaT.
Mton w« the l«t favour he coaM feasonably t^t
bu^re^^r U he resold to give the ^^^
This as he prophesied, would not greatly nlease
Scarron's widow, nor the bigote of the lo^ robe^^t
the thing would be done just the same
It was m pursuance of this plan that a most careful
watch was kept, not only upon the proceediZ^^
Jean Cavaher m the main fortress of La Cavderi^
but also upon the much more innocent a^i^l of
thr^e people of Scottish birth in the little swSw'a
nest among the cliffs of Saint Veran
de Mnnf^r?^^ necessary to say that such a man as
de Montrevel made few mistekes. Out of the CamisaM
d^tnct. the population generally was strongly OtTholk
ctuS ZZTTT' ^"' ^^""^"^ their^Mor^tfon
could be depended upon. Only along one line were
the fu^tives on from one station to another This
senes of outposU followed th.. River Gardr^'till ^
junction with theRhone vaUey,- o^;^ thf ^eafriv^^
:l '
316
*10WEB-0'.THB.C0RN.
«>««> tamed northwaiS ^^.iT. ^' ^'^y- •»««
~^"^ «^h!r^ r.i-1 r ;'^) v»7 na„.
'-'h «.. pa^^rv^Ti^x^ "" "*«"' --^
*
with our friend. T^T ' *' ^'' •8«™ oome m
looked down on .£« 'o™, f^ T"" "" » "">» M«^>»
barbariana-n.en, wrmriif/^P"'.''"** »' the
whom had died fiTZ to^h^°/"^ '*'«■• «" <>'
Roman legion.. ^ ^ ^ ""* '*"' *S-"P "gtinat the
the't^riLf rnih*^:^;: r^'f ■■ ^>"-
'"'"rf blowing at dmk A.^ ™"°'*^ ""J- had
ho^ee. PatrS WeUwood^nnT' ^P"" *""«"««»
picking their way toor^^r? "^ *"«hter were
of northern Proven^ it^l"*""'"^ "«» ""^e.
.foot. MamrS'^,;t^V"« '^ '"'^
'"oks of their CTide ^o i^t'^"' ■«"* *» *•
anxioMheron C,;. V "*^*'' "''"•J hke an
toathem garmente, s^l tu^' ''T'^ "? "
he toew the way, aliTl^^drkl'^'' '^- '""
wSon^TKot^tBltrtS^ *^ «- the
•' ^ Veran. The ^Molt^^^f^^^
,. ,r-1sy>.
mm
FLOWER-O'-THB-CORN.
817
thereto by M.«ric. rSiT wh^i^Lf >""*'' "«^
««>«o<« at the expenTof t^ n " ••• »<> b«
native oonntry. * GoTermnent of Ui
" No," Mid the etoot old Huini«u>> . •< » .u t :.
continue Hie providence, toi^n*^ b- ' ""'• ^"1
able to mU your ho^Jtl j"" °™' "«* ^ "»
that I .hall CaJSTe priZmll"*;,'" """«•
my Lord Marlborough" "^ *° **■* "•"P »'
And even >o the matter had to be left.
exSl tmTamr'r'-":?'^* *""«" '"ch
river, all thTwav to lal„rp"* *''*^ ""^ """^ "-e
large y ove^^ ^"u l,w7' '""-^"' '* «"" ""»
tanl^of iTZM^ZTTZ^ ^* «.Ie inhabi.
about Mailanne. while iT tte w<^ thr^?^-''™"'
TOioumed eatherBr. nf « ■ t themselves there
clay, «> that the whole te^?±,"|„L""?fK°' ■>""*
odour, healthy and braoingrthZ el"tf Tj', ""'
dTXunJt^'rw'^i'x:tt^''r "t"*
po^tiru^t^^rtivTto t^'d^s^-"^' •" -^
anticipant of spring ^ *' "^^"'' "^"e'y
hJS^prcf'^ite ff "IJI' ^-^ "' ""- •-'
as me late moon rose over them and cast a
■*; ~ - ■■- #9P«"il' .
•iT"! • - 4. ,^
3lt
•^W. a '^'-TKB-COKH.
hnd.. "^ "J"" "« gloomy pool, of th.*™.^
Only one, h»mV«u3!l°'™"" '"•^d then,.
™nk low on'ihe^X.rUke^''"'' 'T ""^ '" — 7.
«e«-li»., the roanded .now t^? :^°«*^ ^'P °» *•
Cami«ord 0»u«e,. """'■'''"'""^ "ummit, of the
So now, in another hnd and .,»«-
people, with the rooke of Mont nT "« ' ""^ "heerful
the mowy steep, of Mont vl^'*" o" »• «i<le. «d
toiTeUer. b.g./,„ analajTh^^ ^ «" o""". «>•
Alp.. n,e ,loe, the Zw t^.^tf"'?' °' "» *"•
th«rfeet, th,h«,h ^nl^oilTt ""t .'««'»"•« under
-the« they were lealT^L'S^'"" "' ""« »"»««
they thought. Before tb!m llt'^TT' "' ^"*.
"1^"^^"^'^ "^O andVe'^,.:'" ^P"»P»««.
«f .li»b, «.d the p«>s^r.S^t ;^ 7" weariL,
"ra-gatherer'a hat on ihe flanC?^ '"f* «■ "o™
That at I». f would iJ „ i ""* ™«l" of Baui
ah. never ,.. om^'^t toS ^^ "'»"«h""
8>»<«ining hand, and hfa cLft. "■""'<* B«'»l''«
riow.,tepping heart, FW« o^thrr^"""" "^ <»«
*»d^y tired. And a, theZl™^;^!" J"*^ S"™
gu.de turned a moment uZ Z. w-'^'' °' ""e
»w dark circle, about herT«~' '"""'«'' """"iee
"e, r'\T:^ 'Z';;;^' ^rz r** «^ «
man and his xrifm .J \ *^°^ famjjy-^yea .
M^
W* ^"ti -;--
'" ")« .v. •!■.
nr:?'^
•3.'f?.*K,
-?• ™r/i
FL0WER^3».THE.C0RN.
319
their iloep in quietnoM P««»«en of, ilMp out
liftod Prance. wXSTdoC?!;'*^"^- "'"^
•elf dide into hi. XTlik I- i"**^' *''• '•» ''«-
thrilled at her wZ, ^J!/^ *^ '''^- «« he«t
voiced Provenral with the ^?" .r"*»'»n«higlow-
P.trick WeIIwo^^„! "^-("""erer ud hi. wife.
wt«i up hi. h«7^;nT«"\hn?°"*"8*»«t.
without which he never'^rL^ f^^" '^"•fction
""U- The three ^l^ "' ''°""' «»*»t or
Wine, bUck b«"d «d t'fi"*"'^."™°"*y-
constitated the not iSiohl, , "*"'"« "'"e.tnut.
company of five mad^ tut Z""*" "''°'' *^' "**
early morning mej Ln 2 T ''"'^' " "«'«
MarshaU wentZ.c!„„ J ^"^ "" '"»>• BiUy
an armfu, ^l^u'T;,::^^":^'' "*"""* ^^
twig, of dried juniner !|,„ . .J' P"'»-«™«». »nd
ple«i«.tly, spitC'^/!^"!.^"* .""" ^ ««k«J
FIower-o'.the.ComdriSl„T^*- "'"*«• »»*'
which wa. good I^^; Zr^m"*,^'e°' "nr"''
mg vmeyard. of Saint Remy. ' ncghbour-
Then they .pread her couch and Tl.f mi.,,
a nooning tendem.«,, eov^S'he^ uo ^''"'"*' r""
m five minutes. Meantim. m. • ^' ^l"® wa. asleep
dozed, while P.^wZ^2,T '^ ^^ '^ ""^
venial a. if he had inL. . ' ^°'<»» "d contro-
««i.ting at the ALmlZ^"^ '"°' " **«» <"
Bounded the gre^Sri"' ^"°^» «* Westminster,
with exe«r«„ u^'l^:^'^^™*!"-""" by faith
i~u jinu. and Armenius, and deUvered
~?W MWIt W.JmX'm'UWT^^'Q^l^ w
390
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
M he went many def. baok-handers at certain lati-
l^n^ri "^f :?^^ ^^' P*'« °' **^« Kirk of Scot-
^d a. by law eatabbBhed-among whom one Principal
Carstairee, unknown to Maurice even by name, oimio
in for more than his share of buffets
NeverthelcM Maurice nodded and agreed, his mind
far away and his eyes on the piled shawls in which
bs love lay muffled up on her couch of pine branches
SSf Th ^ ^'. ^°^«^% snored, while near t^e
door the gmde and the resin-gatherers murmured
together, wakeful as Arabs about a camp fire
ch^<^*^ c»me slowly. The little window of the hut
changed graduaUy from dark slaty black to ruddy
brown, the colour of a withered beech leaf. Then it
oTa'w^ w* *'' ^'^ '"^ '' '^"^''"^ *^^ ^'y ^--
T>If^'T^ »|owly raised himself at the end of one of
Patrick Wellwood's lengthiest paragraphs^,
1 wm see what the morning promises," he said
llie mmister nodded a little unwillingly, ihere were
at least other thn« points into wS he hadTot Tt
entered with sufficient fulness ^
of ^r^'lS^"'^- ^'^l.^'^'' ^*^^~ ™ » g^at flare
of blood-red sunrise fronting him. with black figures
silhouetted toweringly against it. ^^
" Good morning. Anglais ! » said a voice; «« we have
been waitmg for you. Step this way. Our orders are
not to disturb the lady."
The house of the resin-gatherer was surrounded by
two oompames of dragoons. The men were sitting
theu: horses motionless as statues, and it was the^'
figures which the eyes of Maurice. stiU blinking with
^e murk and smother of the chamber, hadse^n ink-
black and tail against the splashed scarlet of the dawn
Maurice, his mteUect instantly clarified, stepped
J'-^.iJT''
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 321
without. He was too thorough a soldier not to recog-
nise the hopelessness of resistance ^
his"^str "^' *" '"' "^ ' " ^^ ^^' *^°1^ 0"t
The officer in command smiled.
rH r^V^^ ^^ ^°"' P*'°^«' ^- *« Capitaine de
Kaith ! his captor answered.
Maurice stared at the words.
;; You know my name ? » he asked, wonderingly.
French nffl ^^Tu ^°" "'^^ ^^^ '°^i°°'" «*^ the
iVench officer "there are few things which are hidden
long from M. le Mar6chal-and what he does not know
ii^ht u^k.^ Mar6chale is pretty sure to have
" ShaU I caU out my people ? " Maurice went on.
ibe officer shrugged his shoulders.
"It is not my orders," he said; "we have plenty of
dT^J """f • ""''* *^ *^" ^^y ''^^^' The Marquis
de Montrevd is a most considerate man-where ladies
are concerned." «»vucb
9]
CHAPTER XXXIV.
YVETTE DBDres FBOM Heb Owk Cot.
S.w^'n^fe "2„""f ^ » *"« «»>» rooky
received jil Sv^er Th^" ??»»• -"o" he U
long garden in firrwistmhJ^/""™ '^"' ""e
Montrevel smiled to h?L i7 headquarters. M. de
took '^lo.e.'^tl^^Z^^'Tt'/'^V''
from the sloDea of ih^ t7 V- ^'"^ *^*^ reached
r^ even to^^^t sS;:d'^a4nf''rr'. *•">
WeUwood. Billy^ hi, '?* <»>>ipany of Patriek
rebelliona), iJ'Un remov^^'i^'J^.!'^ ^">^^
where they had lei«nr.ivrT^- * nuhtary prison,
gaolers-it is ^Z Z^n^Zf\°\^^^^ ""^
and delight of these ^X" n *° '^^ """-"'«-"
huniSr^^Torh^^^'S^-r"'
^rr.Strtr:^-^-r«»^:^''w"
tot encom.tered Y^ette B^t ?i*^? *^* "'«
Mar^ohal de MontreVd w,, ji'^? ."^« ,°1 «>«
position— so at lp«.t tiT V. ^ aU, m a different
ft^mYv^F!!„7!?',^?"?"*^«'<»» WeUwood-
vette Foy of the httle hiU-village of La CavXie
:-m. ^mw^^-^^m
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
323
.leUh%vot.'°-"'*- •" " "-- ^ -"^ whom
Kower-o'-the-Com stiU believfiH fhof u
n.«rie, she changes LrZ^TheTt""'''''
more a flirt. The njif «,uu *u \ °^* ^ no
becomes Puss to B<S^ I^j ^''I"'?'™ *"' ««"*
young unmarried fe^le '""P'""'« '« "^^
o-ii:^™*''rr«,^'^ter: rr? ^n^"---
arrest was not her husband's aot!!n!w?' ''?"' ""«
barbr^thX^XT -' '"-• """rought
affect^ his o*s:n"^^r.:?^:'"«j,t'""'''
to allow prisoners to ean»n« .♦ tl- .*' " °® "^"^
Patrick WeUwood aadX ™L EnJlflf' '"'^'^y
resulte would be most serfous ^ ^^ *°™y- '''«
hor^r'^t.i^rrT^^re^r'^t"™'^^'-
which must not be so ^^1^1 t"^t '""* "«» one
the Kves of h« cZaSo^hafTv 1' ".*" ^'^"^
religion, which hadT^^'dlhL^^f "^ "" °'
would be brought to an end an^h.^ ^u* ?""'*'y>
fashion. But, above all tbi^™ t "" '''^ ""PP'^^'
breathed-nottoM 1«P. *7^^'„'"' """'» ""* be
her father It must h '^"°\^*'*-'"'* "^n to
The Marquis ^^ Jdtt fo^'v^w' ate" iL'^^^'r-
.behadnotforgot^l:-f"^-^^J^and
.?^:^fF^-
324
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Saint Veran where the Cadets of the Cross captured
her, Yvette Foy had saved more than her life
So It came to pass that, with some appearance of
permanency, the fugitives found themselves detained
m the camp of the Marshal de Montrevel, while Jean
tavaher was performing, or endeavouring to perform
his promise of bringing the rebel Camisards over to
the side of the King.
As to their unexpected capture in the Rhone vaUev
the Marquis had indeed allowed them to get far beyond
his immediate jurisdiction before arresting them (though
he might very well have done so in the VaUey of
the Dourbie itself), because he did not wish that the
bruit of the event should interfere with the success of
his projects of pacification or with the recruiting of the
promised Camisard regiments by Jean Cavalier
So it happened that there came a new influence a
^aoious presence, into the house of Nicholas de
Baume, Marquis de Montrevel. Wise about other
matters, he was singularly and, as one might sav
shrewdly ignorant about women. Like all men who
having lost then- mothers in childhood, have knowii
few good women since, he was under the belief that
experience of many women can take the place of the
knowledge of one.
As to Flower-o'the-Com, she knew weU that the
lives of those dearest to her depended largely upon the
impression she might make upon the notable Com-
mander-in-Chief of the High Cevennes. And so think-
mg no evil, desiring aU good, she set a smiling face
to the difficult task of obtaining the release of Captain
Maurice Raith and her father. Patrick WeUwood, late
chaplain in Ardmillan's regiment.
To accompUsh her purpose was naturally an im-
possibility at once, but she speedily obtained a
^'j^^^rV
fi.;-'^!-.- *^-,s^-/r«s:
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 326
tkh thlT f"r^ '° """'' ^^'^y of intercourse
aU but the fact of confinement within fiwd bounds
almost purely nominal. ""uuus,
So far everything went well.
MomL^* aU-observant eyes of the Marichal do
Tnd S' !'u """" "P"" '"^^ girl'-morning, noon,
or t^^^ ?' *''5 **' '* *''*'" ""*ng, their broidery
Ih of tea r^ °°"rT "' ''""*' o™'""" afternoon
tl^ ^a-distrnguBhed very clearly, aU too dearly
ZT^' ^^e'e™; ™"an of the world from the in-o-
To^'t Tw"^' Ti »'; ""P"*"^ 8^'- " had been his
boast that he had chosen the woman who suited him
And doubt ess to a great e=.te„t this was true. U
loT^T^^ 'T ""*■". *''^ "■""' -- fi-t madei
Zr7^ q-ickness of wit, her readiness of resort
and retort, amused and pleased the old gaiUard whoL
paUtc was spoUed for simpler household distor
nof h!' if !!.^ ^\^*- ^^ ^'"' '" ^ that hfe could
not be lived as at a cabaret, amid clinking glasses and
riotous toasts, and that the comrade of a ItfetiTl^t
she who can recount the liveliest teles or engage at
pomt-devic* of words with a do^en men atTfLe
Only having been a soldier and a bachelor aU his iTfe'
hB sok out ook the camp, the barracks, and the battl=:
to obs^^'':-^'"r '""' "*™' •"«* *■>» oPPortunit;
^.nrnrtt-LiTho^L-rr
rrs™7a^^^- hfraT™ -
wonder than she reaUy was greater
his'^herrt'T^tT'^^''^ ^"""'^^ '"^ ^^' ^^^^' °f ^hich
^Im \ *°^''/"^ cognisance. The sweet and un-
spoilt nature of the girl Frances WeUwood, her frank
'i^ii?:J=:S*f»
If ' *■ i
h
T?fl|
'-'^^^Kf
326
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
unconsciousness of admiration, the reproof to aU
freedom of language or action which her mere coming
mto a room seemed to enforce with the authority of a
royal command, moved the grim-humorous, hard-
«.htT °^,^ J^";;°',like a glimpse of a paradise from
which aU his life he had been shut out
AU this might have had no iU effects-might even
have passed unnoticed had it not been for one thing
— Yvette Foy had grown to love her husband
Yes, It 18 strange to think upon-but such is the
nature of woman. The woman who had played with
Love as a cat plays with a mouse-she who could not
let one man, however insignificant, slip through her
fingers if she could help it-she who held that the end
justified the means in carrying out her husband's plans
now aU suddenly became jealous as a young girl in the
cnsis of her first love affair. ^ ee
It was upon the eve of the day on which Frances
had obtained from the Marshal the promise that, sub-
ject to the King's ratification, he would liberate his
prisoners immediately on the conclusion of peace in
the Cevennes, that Yvette showed the first symptom
of the coming trouble. ^ ^
The condition of Patrick and Maurice had been
rendered as comfortable as possible. They were sup-
plied with food from the Marshal's own table. That
day Flower-o'-the-Com had been permitted to convey
the good news to them herself, and to hold an hour-long
conversation with her friends in the presence of one of
de Montrevel's officers. Consequently, her anxiety
being greatly abated, she was in the best of spirits
upon her return, and several times she smiled to herself
as she thought of the excellent opportunity of acquir-
ing Church history and systematic theology which her
lover was at present enjoying. It is to be feared that
r^-^'-
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 327
she did not give quite the same amount of considers -
tion to the yet sadder case of BiUy Marshall and
.hut^l i """""""^ ^ *^" °^^*^^y prison and
shut off from the prospeotivo delights of Keltonhill Fair
Anythmg so bright and charming as Frances Weill
^«fK M ^ ^^"^^^ *^°"«^* ^^ ^^d never seen.
Wlule the Marquis sat watching her, she told the history
of her day with spirit, and thanked him again and
agam for aU he had done. So over-nmning was her
dehght that she failed to notice the darkening brows
and unwonted silences of Yvetto, who, unused to
having her husband's eyes fixed on any but herself
had begun to harboiur the darkest thoughts of her some-
time fnend.
So accustomed was Yvette to carry off the affections
of men, as it were vi et arnm, that she could not believe
that every other woman, to whom the power was given
woidd not do the same. In fact, she held for truth the
children s proverb, " As you would do yourself, so you
dread your neighbour ! " • j' «
And the clear blue eyes of Flower-o'-the-Corn, her
npphng hair, ruddy yeUow like ripe wheat, her taU
and graceful form, at once girlish and fuU of the
vigour of the prime, made her, in Yvette's eyes, a
neighbour to be dreaded indeed.
At the time there was little said. Only the gay
tdk m which the Mar^chale de Montrevel was wont to
take a leadmg part was transformed into a tete-a-tSte
between the old soldier and his fair young guest She
spoke of the Low Countries, where the Marquis had
never been, of Marlborough and the Prince Eugene-
whom the Marshal remembered as a slim young lad
the laughing-stock of Paris, with the long la^heT of p
girl and the overweening conceit of himself, which was
ius mhentance as a Savoyard.
328
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
li
Then the converse slid off into other channels. The
Marquis looked across at his bAton.
"Ah," he sighed, meditatively, "that is my last
playthmg. I have gotten it just in time. As it stands
It IS a marvel. For I have not the modern qualifica'
tions. My mother was an honest woman ! "
Now by aU the rules Yvette should have smUed. for
the remark was quite in her own vein. Since it was
obvious that the Marshal meant onlv to glance, as it
were, over his shoulder, at my Lords the Duke of
Berwick, the Prince Eugene, the Du.ce of Maine, and
the Count of Toulouse.
But something selective in the sympathy of the glance
which her husband sent across the teble to Frances
WeUwood stirred all the latent bitterness in the heart
or ivette.
She rose tempestuously, while Frances (who with
her fresh English ignorance had not caught the iUusion)
was still smiling a little uncertainly.
"I presume," she said, turning bitterly to her hus-
band, you mean that allusion for me. WeU, listen
to this, Monsieur le Marquis I am not your mother,
but you have made me your wife. If I am not honest
enough for you and your friends, I am at least entirely
ready to leave you to your honest women ' "
The outbreak came upon her two companions as a
bolt from the blue. With all his boasted experience of
women. aU his study of character, the Marquis was taken
as completely by surprise as Frances herself, who on her
part paled slowly to the lips as the sound of Yvctte's voice
earned first consternation and then fear to her heart
She rose to her feet uncertainly, putting out her
hands towards her friend : x- © i
'* What is it ?-What is it ?-What have I done ? »
she stammered, " Tell me ! "
w:7\
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
329
But by this time Yvette was on her way to the door.
She swept Frances out of her path, thrusting her from
her with fierce anger.
^ " Out of my way, serpent ! " she cried, furiously ;
do you not think I have seen it— aU your affectation
of mnocence, your lifted eyelids, your 'Can you tell
me this?' ' WiD you help me in that?' Oh, I
know you, and such as you, root and branch I know
you! You have striven to rob me— to steal my
husband from me. But you shaU not succeed— no
—by all the powers of evil you shall not ! For as
God lives, I will kill you both first ! "
And she broke into a sort of dry tearless sobbing
like a man's weeping, infinitely painful to hear.
For this day Yvette Foy was beginning to reap that
which she had sown, and she was but little inclined to
relish the harvest.
The Marquis had risen also, but more slowly, his
brows bent, his lips compressed. He appeared tl) be
resolving within him what course to take. He did not
speak, but advanced towards his wife, and led her out
of the room. Then the door was shut, and in the guest
chamber, now strangely altered, Flower-o'-the-Corn
was left alone. She sat, white and much afraid, listen-
mg to the murmur of voices, the duU grufif rumble
which was that of the man, and the keen piercing note
of the angry woman, which at times reached almost
to a hysterical shriek.
To Frances, thus trembling, there entered all unex-
pectedly a spruce young officer— Count Edouard do
Nayve, a Gascon, of the hottest blood of the fiery
province, and also of that readiness to make love upon
aU occasions which is supposed to be de rigeur in the
junior ranks of the French service.
It chanced that at the moment of the young man's
I
330
IXOWER-0'-THE-CX)RN.
entranoe the Marquis prevaUed upon his wife to leave
the ante-room for her own chamber whither he foUowS
her immediately. The sound of their voices sank to a
mmrmur. heard only at intervals. ^ *
Then, eager to profit by his supposed opportunitv
J^SnTvf rth"'"^ hia comiJSs Th bo^^h
pereistency mto the ears of FlowerH)»-the.Com. Never
was the irony of fate greater. So intent was FranIL
on what was passing in the next room thlHhedri^
hardly to breathe. Yet. in order to distract ttvoi^
man's attention from the sounds which catrthS
the partition, she had perforce to answer and evfn
nth^ \ ^^ ^ ^^^ °'°'"«°*« ^^ a^ay and neith^
o her ontertamers returned, her imagination began to
play strange pranks. She saw aU the favours sh«h«^
iirf^x^'"''^'' ^'^"^ ^^'-*^« iivr:fTertth:r
aiid of her lover m greater danger than ever And all
through her thoughtless carelessness. ^
Yet after all what had she done ? W«,. ««„ •
^.^r.\ ^" T^"'^" •-^°«' Flower-o'-the-Com
Bhe did not know that it is ever thus. None are^
h:artS tw i:r l^^.^^^ ^'^^^ sport^s^th o"h"
hearts tiU they beheved that they had none of their
For Love maltreated, Love neglected, or Love
scorned always pays his debt in kind
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Fine Gold Grown Dim.
Meanwhile, high up among the hills of the Cevennes,
Jean Cavalier, with a sad heart, was striving to carry
out his bargain with the Mar^chal de Montrevel. The
young man had definitely convinced himself that no
good could come of continued resistance. The advent
of Yvette Toy mto his life had meant this to him. It
had robbed him of his beUef m that ready personal
help from the Highest, which he had been so ready to
invoke.
Aforetime he had served in the temple. He walked
like Aaron the High Priest, within the inner shrine!
The Holiest of All was open to him, not once a year
but from day to day. He, with his living eyes, had
beheld the mysterious light which awaits the seeing
faithful eye, the Shekinah brooding between the out-
stretched wings above the mercy-seat.
Adept of the holy thmgs, the table of bread was laid
for him. The light of the seven-branched candle-
stick, the smoking altars of high sacrifice, were ordinary
parts of his life. God was at his right hand and his
left. He led his peasants to battle with an absolute
faith in the success of their cause. Unseen, the God
they worshipped, and whose prophet was Jean Cavalier,
scattered His lightnings in their van. They must
conquer — the very powers of hell could not prevail.
T
332
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
4
A. on the R«d S«-. ,hor», the pilUr of fire w«. , waU
betwixt the ohoMn and their foee " • wau
wo™*»h°;I' T, ""?''™'y "'"'"S"*- The man who had
vZ ^J^ P"~t'ol«» became even a. other men.
Urim and Thummm loet their mystic light. Beini
handled they gave forth no mc»a^. Thi ephod wa!
.tamed with common cUy. The phyUctery onthT"
Ood mlh M thy h«,r,. and with aU thy Joul andZthJl
with impious impish blasphemies
.InwT''- *^?«l°' 'he right hand and of the left
beyond the farthest stars. The thunder by which Ho
had spoken, the Ughtning in which Ho made Hk^u
n^htg^r" """^ ■«"" '"- '''■"'^"'- o-n:"
But the man's eyes were opened. It was not ner-
ham weU that it should be so, but it was ine^ta^^T
fts Eve-Yvette that is, a lesser, younger Eve, thoZ
no less serpent-beguUed-had given Um of the 3
of the tree of knowledge, and he had eaten.
6.0 the man awoke, knowing himself for naked As
for the woman, she had been awake of a long Zon
tion ^" n h« Sabbath a day of Holy ConvL-
tion. The bells and pomegranates of his office no
hri7"''r' '" 'r ^"'*«''' ""» " he ^enfint^
the place of saonfioe. Dim grew the fine gold on
HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.
v^llZ^w T'^^'^f ^ "P"'" ^ ^"^^ ^*^i«*^ («> he thought
w thin him) ought rather to have been defiled 4th
dust and ashes. The Leader of the Host never wX5
u
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 333
In the green fields to nie<litat« any more. The stiU
small voice within him was silent. Even his conscience
was seared.
Instead of the soul like a well-watered garden of his
fnend Spirit Seguier, Jean Cavalier's earth was brass
his heaven iron. '
And it was in this hopeless spirit that he went to
oaU the Cevenols to arms in a new and strange cause.
But the fruit of the tree of knowledge had done its
work. The man saw clearly— oh, so clearly. Without
glamour, without perspective, pitilessly, logicaUy
remorselessly, aU that he had been, all that he had
become, were borne in upon him.
It was on the eve of the Sabbath day. The first
touch of spring had come to the high lands of the
Causse. With a soft southerly-breathing wind it came,
that set the birds singing on the leafless willows and
shivering poplars, and sent even a stray humble-bee
or two, large and purple, booming overhead— rare
wanderers from the favoured plains beneath.
In their Temple the Camisards of La Cavalerie were
gathered together to hear the message of their leader.
It was understood that he had a weighty word to speak.
He had been seen night and day wandering on the
bare scalp of the Larzac, his eye fixed, his lips mov-
mg, evidently in solitary communion. He had even
avoided the morning service of the sanctuary and, being
the man he was, his wish to be left alone had been
religiously respected.
When he entered the village the people looked fur-
tively at him— the prophet of God— as if they expected
to see his face mystically suflfused, like that of Moses
when he came down from the Mount.
It was in this, the ancient hall of the Templars,
that the faithful were gathered to hear their leader's
334
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
m
message. It has long been destroyed, but at Les
^Z.'/""""? the splintered peaks of the Alpines, an
almost exact repltca may stiU be seen. Low, vaulted
with enormous arches, its plan seemingly taken from
those Byzantme churches with which the warriw
monks had been familiar in the East, it was yet a
perfect hall of assembly. ««» yec a
It was known that the prophet and chief would
open his mmd to the Brethren that night. They had
marked his frequent absences. Thej had seen him
stray, lonely and brooding, over the'battnTus^
It :^;^zr'''^ -^'^ ^-- «<> ^w hdd m
r.^Z, Tv *^' C^«"ds. the striving, faithful
rT J^~i "l.T"^ '^'^ ^"^ *»««° ««°t to them by
Orod. To doubt him was an impossibility. There had
never been a traitor among them. As they had lived
even so they had died. The rack, the coid, the Se'
thL 1^^ °'' ')" ^^""^' ^"^ °°<^ ^"^ »We to move
them. Old men of seventy and girls of sixteen, shame-
lessly martyred with the tortures of demons. hadX^
even as Spir t Seguier. The Camisards loVeS jtl
Cavaher, and there was no fear in their love
So they gathered joyfuUy. every man of them able
to bear sword or shoot musket. A remarkable con^
gationitwas. There in the gloomy haU of the TemX^
stood tanned weather-beaten shepherds of the CausseT
each with his great mantle of sheepskin about wL
clod-stamed cultivators of a stubborn soil. h^J
planters of vines upon terraces which they themselvi
had hewed out upon the Dourbie-side. gaunt dwellers
among the uUimate rocks in that griik ^antem c%
which the shepherds caU MontpeUier the Old-not
one of them unhardened by toU and privation, or with
an eye unlighted by that lofty personal religiok which
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
335
Jean Cavalier entered,
in L'^r"* fcUowed-the turning of eve^ h««,
usual in this changed ^LcT^JT^f ?*^« "°-
wi'fK.'n *i- T^. . *» aspect, ihe heat of the snirif
1 jl
3.tG
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
suitable for prophets dwelling in the wilderness, but
at best they cannot be called fattening.
So the Folk of the Way marked their leader
with special approval as he stood before theil
Thus, and not otherwise, should one look who
mediated between the ignorance of the people, and
the AU-Wisdom who shrouded Himself in flame, thick
darkness, and the voice of thunderings on the Mount
that might not be touched.
Hush ! He is beginning. Pulses beat faster. There
were wet eyes, tear-furrowed cheeks— aye, though there
were no women in that throng, but only men of age
arm-bearmg, good soldiers of Jesus Christ and the
Church of the Deliverance.
Hush then ! Listen for the word from the mouth
of him that is able to declare it. Not a doubt not a
fear ! Now, at last, the Way shall be clear 'before
their feet. The rough places shaU be made plain
Fear not at all, little flock on the ultimate mountains*
It IS your Father's goodwiU to give you the kingdom
—and who but this man is the Moses that shaU guide
you to the land of promise ?
There was the opening of a door while Jean
Cavaher stood there. A gust of chiUing wind blew
on and extmguished some of the candles and
resinous torches in the window-niches.
" Hush ! He is beginning ! "
Only in the shadow of the great Samson-piUar, with
the Templar arms upon it, Abdias Maurel dit
Catmat, the old soldier of the Way, set his lips more
gnmly, thinking that now at last his hour was come
And in the yet deeper shade, like a tigress robbed
of her cub, Martin Foy narrowed his eyelids and gritted
his teeth. His hand was on his dagger, and he moved
it to and fro in the sheath.
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
."People of the Wa?" i/^*-5 *"? ^^S«° ^^ «Peak
visible effort. '' there ai' da^k tht' '^"'^' ^"^ ^^^^
"«ht." (At this duCs "w!^"^?; '".'"^ ^'^^ this
»-% across 'rCa^^^^ 'J.''^- ^^y looked
God hath given us to drink ChL ^^ ''"P ^^ich
and gall. The honey ye hav« T '°'''«^"^ °^ ^oney
sweet under your tong'^.e Th" wh' ? '^^^ ^^^
gall^ » *"®- -^^at which remains is
gall of bitterness and the b^rf T' • ''' "y* t™6-the
The landlord of the Bon l^r-l^'y ' ")
He did not once «m^e h^ev^^" ^^ "°* '»™--
face. Only he continued d^X^H^' ^r« "^''
'W«: Oodhathllj^J^^: ^ «■« truth i.
*awn Hi, hand from ^ t tLTT' ^^ '"«' "^'h"
the man whom hX' miS^'b?'"™'*''™'''*'!™*
anointed— " "*™ ''^-even the Ix)rd's
C^Z^^, t,ZtZ n°' •"T««' "toniahment
tad been ^^t^f^^"^ 0™"'" '"r which they
"Not against the Kin^ h^T "•' °'"™>"- »«»«>■
'""ght. the ^ut^/h. "^J:;"" *'"' P™''' »« have
" Yea-ae^^ ttTv '""'^<»*« of the Elect ! "
Cavalier, rall^W voi^?' ^f T' °"'^" " ^'^
«■ .I^ng we hav^e shut 0—^7 ""t "' ^^ ''
agamst those set in authon^?' ^ "* *"" "<^''«°
»ottonty over us and have not
338
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
repented. So God hath departed from us. From me
I know that He has set Himself afar off."
("That may well bo!" muttered Catinat, very
grimly. " He will set Himself yet farther from every
sinner.")
"Hearken," Cavalier went on, while a kind of
stupefied silence filled the hall, and for very fear no
man communed with his neighbour, " I did not come
hither to teU you this alone. I have had a message
from the King. You declare with the lips that you
are loyal— well, let us prove whether this be so or no.
His Majesty King Louis of France "
" God send both your souls to deepest hell ! " the
deep voice of Catinat boomed through the hall of the
Templars like the bittern over the marshes. And
from its sheath the cUck of Martin Foy's dagger said
a crisp " Amen " !
"Nay," said Cavalier, "his is not the fault, but
that of his evil councillors. To-day the King offers
us terms— the ending of the wars, the ceasing of the
persecution, the free exercise of our religion— that is,
in private ! "
" And in return ? " cried Catinat, the bitterness of
his opposition masked, for the moment by a smiling
countenance.
Cavalier blushed a vivid crimson.
" In return," he said slowly, as a chile says a lesson
it has imperfectly learned, " we of the Cevennes are
to do as other portions of his dominions have done.
We are to raise one or more regiments of young men
in order to fight the King's battles in foreign parts.
For that he will grant us peace. The conditions are
not hard. This is the message I have from Louis,
King of France. This is the word that hath lain
heavy on my heart, which I have now declared
m^'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 339
l°gr."^"'"""' °' *^' W«y- '»»' a^we, shall
pocset at this moment ! " ■= lu um
At the ohaUei^ direct Jean Cavalier came forward
He was more oahn than he had been when he Z^"
leaders of the Camisards had solemnly invested him
I am Lw^ , T "° '""S^' •» your leader
1 am only one of yourselvea. I have faithfnUv deh
vered my message. I see that for us there i»n^ t,
save In yielding ourselves to the^ „, fl^."" "
eyes, but it is th^Jri^- /„ „^ C^":;" ™ °»
pnnoe, of the people cried for bip tm E;^ ' St
the prophet knew Egypt to be b^nt a brS rS
i^SW^*?,
ll '<
340
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
•'
t i
And so Bay I of England and the allies. They will
not help us. After aU, are we not Frenchmen, and no
rebels ? We rose to defend our rights. These will
now be granted to us, for the King has been misled
conceming us. Wicked men had been about him,
blinding him. Evil women have spoken to our hurt!
Who, therefore, will go out with me this day to fight
the battles of the King of France ? "
There was a dead silence. Even Catinat did not
answer. He stood back, like one who gives his enemy
a long rope and every advantage. Truly Catinat knew
that the Angel of Jean Cavalier had departed from him.
Yet in one thing he had underrated the influence
of his adversary. There were of the younger men not a
few to whom Jean Cavalier was still as a god, men who
had grown weary of the long confinement among their
own bleak hills, especially since the raids and forays
had been given up. These had not the older men's
religious enthusiasms. They loved not preachings, or
long praymgs, and,their hearts leaped up at the mere
thought of the long t-r-r-r-r of the kettle-drum and the
stirring notes of the trumpet. Some of these had made
it their custom to steal out to the base of the old cradle
staff of Saint Veran, that they might listen to the
merry marching strains which came up from the valley,
as guards were set for the night, or the dragoon
regiments rode home two and two along the Dourbie-
side, jingling bridles and clinking scabbards in the pride
of their accoutrement.
For very envy, they might indeed take a shot at the
soldiers from behind a boulder, or with the musket-
barrel laid along a low rock barrier, but there was not
a man who would not rather have taken the risk of
marching with the troops (with the added certainty
of hell-fire afterwards), than^have gone back to the
If
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 341
same old round of duty and prayer and preaching, and
rrrof S^ ^"^ ^"^^' ^ ^ Cavalerie Vn
So aU shamefaced and suUen. but in the main deter-
mmedly, one here and another thei^ stood up and gave
m his unpopular adhesion. "I wiU come with you
Jean Cavaher I " or " I will stand by you. Jean ci:::
But they were few. The Camisards were mostlv
not young men. The young lay under greeTrnTni
here and there on both sides of the ba^^ wind-swenJ
Cevennes. Cavalier's recruits numbered ^rhaps ^a
dozen m aU. and Catinat waited. He would tike no
advantage. Jean Cavalier had ousted him fa 15; at
the first. So not unfairly would he fight for the
maste^ now that the hour of his triumph'was so near
afW « 1 ' ^'''^'^ °^ '^' W*y'" <^ried Catinat
asLT„o« ^'^«.P^"««' during which eveiy man looked
askance at his neighbour, "ye have heard this man
pervert judgment with words, what say ye 2 Ye
have heard these also-young men without wisdom
m whom the weight of the Word is not. Will ^Zi
of King Louis against our brethren— men of one faith
with us. whose ministers have spoken the Gosper^^
our ears whose messengers have brought munitions
of wars into this very place ? " munitions
Cavalier came forward as if he would have inter-
rupted, but Catinat waved him aside
a.Z^ ^T ' " ^''.u ""^ ' " y' ^""^^ «P°ken and may
agam. But now the word is with me ! Yet let Z
iTonet''™'!?"''"'^ °^ ^^^ ^V' -^-^ot he
has done this. It is our right to know. It is not a
r^^l'-? «°d- I^ •- no sign that he harh ^en^^
What then ? I can tell you, brethren
His holy
..-«H KLf., ' ^_., T>-«^
1 1
jl I
it J
342
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
revelation is the promise of the King that Jean Cavalier
should have the command of as many men as he can
raise among us. The blessed sign is the commission
given him by our enemy and persecutor, the Marquis
de Montrevel, which he carries in his pocket. Let
him deny it if he can. I have spoken ! "
By this time the Camisards were for the most part
upon their feet, and the old hall of the Templars
already obscured with the reek and flare of torches
and the dim winking of guttering candles, was one
confused tumult of angry men and fierce shoutings.
And in the midst of the turmoil one man, dark of
face and with grey hair that drooped in a heavy fell
over his brow, who had been standing in the shadow
of the great pillar by the' door, moved a little nearer
the platform.
"For the last time I appeal to you, brethren"
cned Cavalier; "listen to me. Have I ever led you
wrong ? Have I ever asked aught from you for
myseU 1 "
" No, you have asked it rather of the King's High
Majesty," retorted Catinat ; "for us, we ask nothing
from Louis of Bourbon but what he has given our
fathers and our brothers— the gaUows and the rack
Take your commission and go. You are not of us !
Go forth, traitor and spy ! "
And through the haU and up from the crowded mass
of Camisards which surged beneath came the hoarse
threatenmg murmur, " He is not of us— he is not of us ! "
" One day you shaU know I have spoken truth ' »
cned Cavalier, above the tumult; "when your vaUeys
are swept with the fire and the swurd— in that day
you wiU acknowledge that I have spoken among you
the word of truth and soberness."
"Go— gol" they cried, hoarsely; "go and take
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 843
your half-score of branded traitors with you! Perhaps
you yourself wiU come back in the King's uniform to
bum our houses and drag us to the rack ! "
"You do me wrong," said CavaUer, "grievous
wrong ! I have never sought aught but your good.
For the last time hearken ye. Men of the Way, if any
have a quarrel against me, let him stand forth and
declare it, face to face. I stand here among you
defenceless. If I have deceived any-done evil to
any, here is my breast— let him strike and spare not ! "
Then the man with the matted mass of hair, falling
badger-grey and dank over his eyes, tossed it aside
that he might see the better, as he leaped on the plat-
form, with the muttering growl of a wild beast.
"/am here!" he shouted. A dagger flashed a
moment in the smoky glare.
There was a great crying— a frightened surge of
men. Catinat stepped forward and received in his
arms the body of Jean Cavalier. The dagger was
ueep sunk in his shoulder.
His assailant plucked it out again by main force.
" He hath stolen my daughter— sunk her soul into
the lowest heU ! " cried Martin Foy, holding the knife
aloft. "It was for her sake that he betrayed the
Lord. Have I done right, Brethren of the Way ? "
And with a mighty surging roar, hoarse as the anger
of the sea when the breakers fall on the pebbles, came
back the answer, " Bighi thou hast done, Martin Foy / "
li '
CilAPlER XXXVI.
GATUMrao Up thk Fbaomests.
thought „ Z^ , ^^^ ^"' •'"» M'rtin Foy
M.!H?"^Jf; '«"■•«»>• being. .„ end to th.
rataing of the Cam^ JtL- ^^. *'" '"*'»• »»<' the
~rvi^. Which we«T'<S,ffrh"2l'^'r """«»
•eemed now farther off th"n eve^ "'*•""'"* '^"«'°*'.
riv^s.'^thThe'^j'',:^' ^,!ir r*" "^ ""»•'-•
■night nu«e w."^^' if'Ti"' '.P'^" ""S""
gallows. Hi, wo.^i^ ' r^ "* "•'"'X'tor for the
Jy severe. TiT wm ,^1 'T"""-' "" «°d°»bted.
present state of aff«ii,S 7^j hastened. In the
of such a ch^. "" ""'^ ''°' •ffo"' to lose sight
lik^a ua'?;ith'ig:::„raZ,'" '^t -<"' """^
eaw visions and LTm^'^jT^ " °«*"» °' e^PoeureT
closed his eyrhe^eo.Uu^'!"- "^ °"*° " he
of billowy nothilj^^ ITL',""""'"""'"''' '^8-es
tempting fiend sS'suItIv t^ "^ i^". "'«'• "*« "
whon. for certain f:^:TL,^^TAZZ
FLOVVER-O'-THE-CORN. 345
««ined to Inve. Then, in an inatant. all was diasolvnd
He came out upon the face of Very God T Th^ ^'
the door he muttered "Uff' ♦k ^.J"* """' °"' »'
down their neeS thettlt""'""^"-"""' "^^
sZdin7r;.U 'f^T- --^^ o.™- men of under'
Mo^;er,ir.t"r::et£:^^ thft Tt.tTt ' '
easily put out " "'"'"^ ^^""g '"^^ « not
■'.3: !tin&;^HW>iHS?«'
''.r;i^itcv'«.r«^ ■
346
FLOWER-0 THE-CORN.
With the scene in the old haU of the TempUrs and the
approbation of his bloody vengeance by hi. Brethren
of the Way. he had vanished. He was seen no mow
in La Cavalene. The Bon Chretien itself was left to
the care of servants and hostelers, who camped upon
Yvette s embroidered tapestries, torn from the waU,
and left the print of their tankards upon the whit^
oamask fine as that of a queen, with which she had
been delighted to plenish her armoires.
As for Martiin Foy. he was elsewhere, not self-skin
as many of the people thought. His time was not yet.'
Ihe man s Calvinism had taken the austere Old Testa-
ment form, mixed, too, with some of that latent in-
sanity which never marches very far from such as he
An eye for an eye and "a tooth for a tooth," became
hw motto. Nor did he greatly care to distinguish
Whose eye and tooth were to square the account.
But now among the Camisards of La Cavalerie there
was no leader but Catinat. The accepted policy was the
one of resistance to the uttermost, a counsel of despair
indeed. But in the bitter disappointment of their
mood at the faUure of their heaven-bom leader, nothing
else had any chance of being listened to. TheCamisard
country became irreclaimable. Dumbly and deter-
mmately the land lay awaitmg its fate— the charger's
trampling hooves, the blazing roof-tree, the falling
rafter, the half-company with its muskets all pointed
at the heart of one honest man (whose only fault was
that he thought diflFerently about religion from King
Louis and his mistress), the orphan's cry of affright,
the widow's inappeasable weeping.
Cavalier had seen truly. His eyes were opened,
mdeed, and at one glance he spied out the nakedness,'
not only of himself, but of the land.
Even on his sick-bed, and in spite of all the oare of
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 347
fhi'i;!!; ^7**'«' «^«/^«d tokens that there were in
the camp of the Camisards others who had been im-
SZT^ 7 ^^t *™^*' °* ^'^ ^«^'"d«-who. spite of the
t^ouJhf /r*'^ "f '^' ^*^"«*** «^ prejudices,
tliought as he thought. Notes fluttered in at the
opened window as soon as he was able to sit up for an
hour and Catinat was safoly upon his rounds. Init^.|«
denoted names. Numbers were used for sec. ye
. J' 7T? "«" ^^^^be'^d to the edge of the V Uc ..
at dead of night to signify their adhesion to th ,hUl
who had. m their idea, sacrificed his life I nn!e, ->
speak the truth in the ears of an unwilling p >, . ( '
All were not true Camisards of the Fc .rn ^i^t.
oven m La Cavalerie. ' '"
Beneath, in the valley of the Tarn, Marsha' - •
Marquis de Montrevel had an anxious time. Swift aau
hT wT°^T ^^'^^^^^ ^^ °"^« «' **»« '«te which
had be alien Jean Cavalier. A fanatic Camisard
had snutten him-that is what they said-knowW
better than to reveal the name of the assassin-on!
^ven mad by the thought of surrendering to the
^Z^li. ?' *i^ ^^^ ^°°'^^' *^°"«*»* **»« Marshal.
But there have been fanatics before, and the world
has gone forward in spite of fanatics and fanaticism
Perhaps the network of wrinkles about his eves
ivould have grown a Uttle plainer, the furrow dinted
between his brows become somewhat deeper cleft
If he had known that the man who had gone out with
the dagger red from the ancient haU of the Templerie
was Martin Foy, his own father-in-law.
But it was his doom that he should not know. And
without such ignorances as these even Fate herself
--to say nothing of the lii8torian-~oould not do her
perfect work.
!|
348
FLOWER-O'-THE-COUN.
debt .J ::^iot '^^:t:..5.xr r-"™ -'
day,, .volng d^LtS^'tl''^":^, ^'"^ «« "-
offence, was oonsoiou. of it „ he^f v T °'
-uboMinate. «„, entered hia own hoi Th^nn"'^'''^
butting g,:atditat':r.'orw:;l rr.'"''
kmdnej^nd'.ttttaf ^LoTTn V**^ ""^ "'
had received as the J»La^„ " *'."" ?"' »W
la Martchale. '^^ ' " *""" "'*■ °' M«dame
But, in spite of aU, Flownr^' ti,. o ■
pUce in the hou« of ^^7^^ de M^nTrevd"* 8h'
had had many battles with h2^it " "'°"'^f®^el. She
upon this eo^. ITl^Z" wZ:^ 'Z''^
«poUt child. She had seen manv W ^ "''
heart that remained vi^n IT ' ""•• *'"> "
had her father to thinkTurZvTT *" """■ ^*^
al-o. Shcco„ldserve;'e:„'::^aasrel'.'r:^lr'
pru.on-ceU, and any consideration wh'hth«v^ tlf
on account of her would at once "pT.'^it* w^^^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 349
the doughty veteran. From hi. friend, in K^"d
snip in the Cevennes were numbemH ««^ ♦». 4.
Now nothing is so trying to the temper of even a aooH
woman as to know herself in th^ 1^*^ "' even a good
..noKu * '^"w nerseu m the wrong, and to b«
unable to confess it. But that which chiefly hurt th!
one E.ther-.weeter, fairer. withX S'o': i't't":
but m her very house, in the daily sight of Ahasuera.
^ir™"" ij^' *" *"■" «■* ""'»« hia heart d°i«d
There M, mdoed, no aaymg to what the bitter ^k
of Yvette'a ,n.nd might have conducted her but ft.r
an mcdent which befel one grey and eWU^^h »f/
noon in late March, aa .he walicS LSrv bTth^
of the ancient military pri«,n. ^ ^ ' '"*"'"
Upon a broad terrace, which gave a view of th. .mi
blue breadth, of the Tarn and „f .h. 7 t '*"
a.i.;„u /;* o . *«iii, ana oi the pleasure boAtn
which (It was Sunday afternoon) punted out inTca^l!
manner upon the boson, of the water, or de^LT.^
<a.ly p,c„,c, o„ the .ward of one of t. marwand?
Madame U Marecluile wa. walking alon* ^ "
8h.^11 '"'"'■'"' •*'^"' "*■»" "•« niurmur of voice.
She had accompanied Fr«,ce. WeUwood. who haZTe
,'-L'\ .-.f* ' i *J^
3S0
FLOWER^'-THIMJORN.
to ™,t her father. Now .he .waited with . ourioa,
fand of impatience her exit. Yyette hated er^
moment she spent with Flower-o'-the^m. yet fZZ
that she was loath to let the girl out of her'Sht It
ZJ^ 7h"""K'^ discomfortaS; position for IS oo"
oemed-though, perhaps, of those interested it is the
toon and that because he had perforce to take U,
wrfe-s temper and her tongue to bed with him
t^ ^ 1 "^ ""^ *''*'* """"o " ™« "ot of the bush
to one Esdras, priest and reader of the Uw, so now to
whicI'iMl S" ^i^"* "" "'"""™' »•«" «»■»« o„^
-r ve/Ze ^oy / Yvette Foy / "
It waB a strange vbice, thick and with a foreiim
timbre but fhere was no mistake. Veiy clearlv I^^
one caUed her name. And Yvette, Th^g^^^^^
pretty shoulder pettishly, turned to loJk ^^
But only the grey walls of the prison stretched away
rood after sohd rood of masonry. The embr^urfs
rom which the defenders had oncT poured t^e Sen
fead on the helmets of the assailante. and which now
more peacefully disposed of the surplus rainfaT
grinned vacantly down upon her from Wgh overhead!
There was no one there. Perhaps there was the gleam
of a pike as a sentry, having stooped to take a humr
^tThl^«l P^T^"^^*^" «*™* "Pon the ramparts
* rZfT f^^t '"^^ren* to the middle distance
i veUe Foy I Yvette Foy ! "
It was a muffled voice, but quite unmistakeable
The girl hurried to the verge of the terrace walk, and
looked over. An ox-waggon crawled laboriousi; by
the animals looking little larger than flies on the
mistral-parched whiteness of the roadway
FL0WER-0'-THE-C!ORN.
361
«
YveUe Foy I YvetU Foy I "
Thia time, of a surety, the voice waa plainly behind
her. She turned quickly, and out of one of the arrow-
slits of the fortress, at about the height of hw head,
appeared an oW rag of a red colour, vehemently
agitated. ^
She went towards it, with surprise and some anger
that a prisoner should dare to call her name aloud.
Who are you ? " she answered, putting the ques-
tion imperiously.
"Be you Mistress Yvette Foy ? " said a voice within,
still in the same strangely thickened foreign accent. '
" 1 am the wife of the Marshal de Montrevel," the
girl said. " My name was once Yvette Foy ! "
" And not so long ago, I am thinking ! " came the
answer, "and it wiU be that you ill have forgotten
Bet, the gipsy's wife, who came with the young English
Captain to La Cavalerie ? "
" I have not forgotten," said Yvette, who, to do her
justice, was never too proud to learn, and never turned
her back on a friend without due cause.
"Then here is Bet, and also BiUy her man, that
would provoke the living God Himself with his crying
about Keltonhill Fair." the voice went on. " I have a
message for you, pretty mistress, could I but see you
for a moment ! "
Speak," said Yvette, looking round her quickly
" there is no one without ! "
" No, but there are plenty withm here," answered
the voice ; " the garbage of the heavens above and of
the earth beneath— one might also say the waters
under the earth, save that most of these heathens have
not looked upon honest water for a life-time."
" Haste you," said Yvette. " 1 must go. What is it
that you want with me ? "
352
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
h )
*• To speak with you, fair lady ! »'
Speak, then," said the girl. aniffUv • " T I..
•ecretB with a gipsy wife • » ^^ ' ^ ^*^® °°
^Hu.h." ^d Y^etU,, " wh.t do yoo w«,t with mo
" To speak , you in privato, ladv " aaid tl,. - •
"1 see you •» Jk alone-unhaDDv Thrr- ?™-
the axle who« there should to S^Z ''"'^ • "
knows ; win you sneak w,^h tST^u ^'^^ *"«
weU before in'ihe Sljtr "fi!!!'.' ""' '^""«"«' ^
" I will come ! Be content ! " said V,r«f*^ n •
towards the main entrance ^^^' '''*"'^°«
T . * * * • •
in ten mmutes the gipsy wife R«f o«^ *i. .,
MJe Ma^ehal de Mo^L'veV:e;?lir^4^::^« ;'
f«oe. AU women are at heart one in troubk pL-
Ace or dislike may prevent them from^^tt^. ^"'^
thai ^^'"^^C7:^:^ij^,^^'iz>^i'^''.
yonder sUence of a brokenheTrt .1. ^ ?* '"'"'■
that thicken about th~tmp'^h fnThS? .'""
very ,ew who have known no pleasure either in sex
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. • 353
or child, yearn for the privUeire*, of «,- 1 .. r^
like . boys, and eye, Zr^k 1^ fght-ringleted
herself at one step ve^ncTr lo Z. M "'u^' '"'"«'
grim gipsy race of tb! fZ Tn ^L "^"- "' "-e
blackest blood of EevDt^rf i"^ ™"' ^n «>«
an.e„.. Uings .bo'^t^ Pbta'Trpi't^"- ^«'
perils meanly surmounted „e"e^u''^<'''.» *'«"'""<«
tjU^ed apart with Madame ia^ML^b^al^ll^rant
tbe^'ve'^'JrhoTtl'"' """?lf °°* <" -»»-
spite of str^y i j;rr'"""''"''«'P- Nor
AU the rest is ^'Jl'" '^\«™'- 8™% vary.
wilderness-the eomli^rt^PSr V "'"^ " **«
from her own partTo'uT r-^kl^ "'"'"« """^ «»"<">-'
wit?o;tT^arf;"Ur if ''h''^^^**^ « ">■* «-
Mked a question. ^ " "■* "'"»''«■ »he
" ^^■Ao M <Ae ? "
that' st'lL^rh t oftho''"'"''" "'"^ >-" '^ P"-.
life, save whit she TJ "'f """'"ees of Yvette's
the Bon (Ctien at ?1 T" f""" "'"' stable-floor of
^i^tstt^ir-rotstr^'—-"-
i
354
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
"The Englishwoman!" answered Yvette.
Bet MarehaU took the information oahnly It
was as she had expected, and her plan of campaign
was ready. *^ ^
She saw KeltonhiU Pair at the end of aU, and her
husband parading the long wattled street from end
to end, cudgel in hand, seeking new worlds to conquer.
IncidentaUy, however, she was not unwilling to
assist a few other persons to their several " Keltonhills "
She asked certain questions, to be sure of her ground
" She is in your house ? "
" You wish her out of it, but no further ill ? "
To these queries Yvette answered only by a nod of
the head. Then there came another, more intimate.
And your husband? "
*' I love him !
" And he ? *
Yvette flushed redly, then slowly grew pale again.
1 thmk— I beUc e— he loves me," she said, " but
I have known men many men. He is a man and
therefore I am afraid ! "
The gipsy nodded. These things had not been hid
from the blood of Egy^ during their thousand genera-
tions. ®
" We," she said, sofiiy— '♦ we have a remedy—"
/lu ^°^'" "^^^ ^""^^^^ "^""^^y' "I »«ve thought
of that. But that would not give me back the love
of my husband ! "
The gipsy wife pondered, smoothing one of Yvette's
empty gloves between her fingers. " There is another
way," she said. " I have tried it.
The girl looked up expectant. The gipsy moved a
little nearer.
" See," she went on, " onoe it so happened to me—
or almost. There was one Lilias, of the Baillie folk—
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN; 385
of ^r^'si ^"* ^ *° ^'** ^"»' '"^^ »°d women
of them. She was younger than I~perhap8~the
other abo. My man looked on her as oriu^^en
TnZ^T^''"^' ^"u" '*'°°« °^«° *^^ '^t that which
in nowise concerns them, being content.
Nevertheless she, this Lilias, waited for him with
downcast eyes and a heavy burden, which he Ju W
snatch up and help her to carry to her tan. as (God
rntTh^ught orh^.""^-^ ^" ^^ '"- ^ ^^.
Inii ^°Lr^T ^ ^^' ^***^"' ' ^"* - he was a man
and It behoved me to guard mine own."
TwnH Af ^i '^^^ ^^y ^^^'^ carelessly, with
a kmd of wearied resignation.
" So I went to a young lad of spirit-one I knew
who had noted Lilias-and I told hL to be at a well
in a certam wood at a time fixed. I bade him not
to come alone. So with a nod and a wink he understood
Ihen I bade the lass venture forth with me to brinir
in the water for the night, and. weU-the young man
earned off the maid on horseback, as is 4e ^tom
Of us gipsies, while his friends restrained me so that
1 could not scream too soon. Thus in a good hour
l^ihas gat a man of her own. and I. Bet Marshall, dwelt
at peace m my tent ! "
She stopped, and Yvette sat taking in the moral of
the tale.
" I see not how," she said, after a whilej
The old gipsy wife bent and whispered in her ear.
There is a muid-let us say Lilias, one too many
m the house that is yours by right. Without there
w a youth who sighs amain, and listens for hor step
356
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
With him is a minister, having power to marry. I
a horse or two for them to escape upon, me and mv
man accompanying them." i~ , ««, ima my
Yvette nodded.
" Yf«." she said, " that would indeed ease me in one
w£t '' " :f *'°"«*^^ °° •' »>"^ -^ *"« «^1 ^
willing to marry the man ? '* © »^
Many things have happened since last I looked in
her eyes. She was willing enough then, I know ! "
whinh ?r^ ^^ conducted back to the open hall in
llethet^i^TTolS ''^°^" "^'^ ^^'^^ ^««^^^-
Malri^ireftT^r.'^ '--' *'°"«'* ^^^^ ^^^
asm'Jr ^.'^°"«;^* °^«»-«i°»Ple." she murmured with
of Tual . ^ !i^^ *' ^*^ godmother with a bag
of sugar- plums and a ' Bless you. my children ! '
The world has not seen the like."
Suddenly she laughed archly and wickedly. She
" Tht '". ?w^ ""^^^'^^ ^*^ mischievou^s gS,
«<^motIf ' '^^l "* ^V' «^« «™d. "I unU play faiiy
godmother— with variations!"
CHAiTKK XXXVJI.
Vice Pkovidesce Supimedbd.
".atmosphere of coStment h^" *". "'"''"d «'h
cha*»<lj*tha™hrde,rtoh''"r''^ '^'*'-'- ^""
from hia monath to?:tr„^Vr """f r"""*
aoothe a troubled sou? ^ ^"^ calculated to
thoigruToriTrobu" '""""" "^ "' -»"• -0
Cevennea without further f '™ .P»"'*'»»«>'> of the
Wed reproof and if vJ T?' *" """■ «'«'« f"'-
maroh no^tZ behind '"'"°"" """ "**« """W
immediately ^d th , V H"^ "««> "pon bis trial
aatiafactonrtohisTalt,, ^•"''"''' ""«' » """^ict
FM m stir up the peoples of France
i
V
! ;
•I
' i
II
in
[Ml
fl
358
IXOWisJR-O'-THE-CORN.
vou^' m.« ,5^"« *^*^ '^^^ *<> ^««^« that the
S r K°"^*^ P"^"~ "° authorisation of hL
I- _? ™"°*«<' oy hi» own oommander-in-ohiof
In .h.ch o«, there would, of oou«., b. no"iffioX
r.»Kr .u "y'' "ecretarjr in hia hand. Ho wouU
rather a thou«nd time, it had been hi. recall 8^.^
?™vl".t*h>""". ~"" ■»" *«ke" ^ ploLte
W" i^V. .^.t^^TSr* '" «>• """"A^ of Z
growled rr**, T" ^ ""• '^•« M»i"ty I " he
.«ely not aZ^' • J^Z,, ZT. •"T?''"*-
to me De CviJ,°"^^.'thaT4M t^ -"rH
oaanot imagine how he got hi. infor^t*? ' '^°' ^
At this moment his wife came in fr^ a^a u-
%!l|flff'»
rMWBB-O'.THE-OORN.
■w 380
Haw they Mnt yon Uok t« »!..
"^ wiU be bettef th.n Tu- "'"' "■*"" ' Any-
•*«.«.. only t'^.^„"i^^?„«'-«;«'-"H.w. Mi<
tt. oloth.., „d for the men to Lfi* J'T™. '° ""^
the coping o/ the bridge " * '" "" '""^ '«»»
to It kno4« th.t /r;e» *! ™* "° """-'on
wouU not be long before hJIT """"""y 'n>ubled it
into hk connoil,. ^ '""'*~^ """Id take her
ment'^S'LH;',";' •..'r"r"y- <"*»«»« the doc„-
"ntr?" •" "»* ---" '-oi^ "'""*■' '^''"'-
ouriou. voice. " ,. it jt Svi.iT!?'' •<'*"« <" •
»ohl°-,i!:a'^'^^»J-;heomeer. , thought
then h.ve him «t o^r tht ^? h«n arranged, ^d
^ • apy amongatT iSe w'i. k ' "'"'" •"»
what i. the «me tting-fiZLS."*.^' "^o" toW. or
" But AftAT J, ^> ocarron e widow I "
Vvette. inn^nU;,Tti^T" ""^ L ^ » " aAod
"i;«.i,hi.d..th.';.Zfj " '^^' *"'» »"« floor;
«cCat"r'j^':rk''o,ir •"• :?"• ""• «""••«'.
«o~ : " it put. thVZ^ht^f ^•7""'o»'-"ill with hii^
«> to bearaie dl^tf hl,7 r?."-" "" "">• I
or be kaded by tr^'':l"'t. M " *^~'"«'-
"-^ the aSair if ^L:;^ , *" ■""»« «' mi-
behin^l'-t^ j;:'' --«|^» fl.«h ^^ P-'tty ,«th.
royal letter. ' "" '*^"y perused the
" ^"^'^ '""' "<»» '"« *ork ..uiekly,.. ^ u.„^^^ .
!^(JW>.^;
f^^W^'^"^^^^^^
MICROCOPY RESOlUTKm TEST CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART r4o. 2)
1^
|« |12
n^
12.0
i 1.8
^ /1PPLIED IN/MGE
1653 East Moin Street
RocliMter. New York U6M USA
(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone
(716) 2M-59B9-FO.
360
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ft
"it was most fortunate that she chanced to be in
waiting this month upon the Duchess "
Then she sat down by the table and knitted her
"d LTTl^^'^'^^'"'''' *^^ ^^^^^-« "-bent and
worth whl f^^'^V ^"° ^^"^' ^'^^^^^^^ I* i« not
rn^Jn f */-o"l>I«ig your head about. Luckily
or^ I dare" \T '"^"^ ^^ '^^ ^^^^-' ^^^ ^^ ^^
rrnili ^ *^^'^ '' * ^^y «"*• At least I can
put oflf the court-martial as long as may be - »
But Yvette did not run away. She sat and mused
ooking at her husband the while. Presently aTwith
a quick impulse she caught the gold-braided etTof
his uniform, and drew him towards her He stood
ookmg fondly down upon her. With her other hand
she^renched up and caressed the rough grizzle beS
" Of course, I cannot help you, can I ? " she saiH •
^^i xz^'^ '-' ""'"' ""- °- '^^^
Yvette gave vent to a little pouting shudder inf
lu iuaurico Kaith. It expressed a ceneral Ai^Uh
to the death penalty when earriedouTtaio ell'
prox.m>ty to the dwelling of a Marshal's wife andt
addition It declared a eonviction that it the matt«
were only committed to her, she Yvette rt" p
»e^ ^y, Mar^chalo de Montr^velX'u^d'al ote^^re
the Kmg, satisfy her husband's honour, and toe?
dentaUy, save the young man's life
Now Yvette Foy oouM do nothing simply In the
most ordmaiy actions of life her motives wei^complet
Even m marrying her husband, and taking her S
m
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN sqi
done with Cavalte but fl.,* ' '"i^'^' ''*'* ^''^
CavaUer loved W^^tm'^'MlteeTaitr^L/^^^
audacty to love another. Still worse t„ teU her oHt
No, Maurice Raith should not hn .h^t t -l
"ot '^^^Fate edit lid"" "'Tf '"' ''™ '" '"e
Ma.eha,e i}rot:et.":^rPrL^^:^LS'
So It came to pass that Yvette Fnv »,„^^ i™ae(i.
bran, which /orks hest:!;:; .'tunlr /-^^ffi"!
cult.es when one problem after another is prLn fd
or solution and of which the net result must te trans
Sn.'"^ terms of instant, vigorous, and dSte
Through an intermediary in Millau, Yvette kept up
i.
I:
mh
pi-
?3:.
362
IS..
I
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
a constant correspondence with certain friends in th«
t^rrV^uT' ^'^^ '' -^«' indeed bX ^eln!
He w': Marshal knew everything which went onThere
He was, for instance, aware of the fact that Jean
tt^^^^^^^ ^y C^tinat, and tha^
tnough pubhcly deposed from authority, there was a
..^u°'^l ""'^^^' therefore, for Yvette to close her
combmations and bring Cavalier and those who adher^
^m to the eamp of the Marshal in the v"
Now it hardly needs to be said that Yvette was the
essentiaJly different from our English " adventuress "
She had attamed aU that an adventuress ^IZr^
for-a husband whom she loved, a high position S
r;L"htd*l" t'f ^ ""' •>-» -"<S^to shin^
»oI .h» l5 !, 7'** ""^ *^ '""> aventuriere pur
St: wclrjtng r "" '°' ''^^^ ^'°-' -' ^^
SofrmratJlmghTandretr-^^^^^^
^rthroh~ritt:-d-^^^^^^
m.rmg eyes which followed her, the retu^ Xoes
W as rap-ers soft as honey in the comb r^boTe ^
or the knowledge that she was appreciated-in short
the thi^s which made life worth Uving She hid
these. Nevertheless, adventure drove C^llu^
FLOWER-0'.THE-CORN. 363
rt was not intrigue so much that she cared for. Rather
the love of change, of power, the need of action stimu-
lated a nature changeful and brilliant as the neck of a
pheasant or the heart of an opal.
So it need not surprise any who have followed the
third night after her husband had shown her the King's
letter she was to be found (had there been any to find
her), wrapped in a hooded cloak, and in a peasant
woman s dress making her way in the dkection of
La Cavalene by the steep path up which she had
passed and repassed so many times.
Yvette had waited only till her husband was safe
m the great tent with his officers, engaged in those
interminable mihtary discussions concerning sieees
and counter-marches of which the land service never
seems to weary. She herself had told de Montrevel
that she was tired and would go to her own room early
night with his colonels and staff, and that she would
not be disturbed till the next morning. Though the
sprmg was coming, the nights were yet lon|, and
Yvette had good reason to hope that she might be
?or th« M .*?' f " w ^'"'"^^ ^ *^^^ *« be back
for the Marshal's breakfast hour. In any case, she
had told her maid not to call her before eleven
Only to Flower-o'-the-Corn did she reveal 'her in-
^IZ fy. Ti^"? ^ ^^^^^"""- S^^ ^^^ J^^^ that
recentW fill^ t^'^ 'T""'^ "° "^^^ ^^^^ her father
recently fiUed her with the deepest anxiety. She
could bear it no longer. She must go and find o^^t, bu
rf she had not returned by eleven the next morning
Frances was to go in person to the Marquis and reveal
the cause of his wife's absence to him
So it was with a feeling akin to elation that Yvette
364
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
'Ted wlroTthH. ^^^--P -^ -t upon the
cu oareness of the hmestone. The liahu r.t fv,
wS she kt^rlTh " ""i" ™«'^ illumination
tlie-Com " '"'"dow-light of Flower-o^
briefbrttZ?" "^ T"^ '""^ P™y«"." *e said, witl, a
>)nef bitter smile, almost a Krimace- in u,h,„i, i,
was neither hatred nor envy b„rrath!rTh' 'T'"'
S-ratrn^£-Kt"fH
s^t^a Lfan^i-rtn ^^^^^^
praye. with thTtrof them-ah": 1""^? '"'
worse now than then ?-I wonder " "" ^ ''"^'
of Iho'CatawTher" nZ 'T"^ *" 8^-' '"'^^^
»oonii,,.t"^;add:™ti t'^^^d ri^^^^^
its boulder-snIintl« "^'naiess, the long shadows of
crumble oTthls^r,''"-"^'* """"" ""^ ^ind-dried
avividsenJo pTeLr^'fe'""" ^" "" '^<" -"K
" After all, Scatter .^^7 long breath.
vvuuxa like to walk once ^^ tht^ n?;i ^
Beuf— just once, with M le Dnr. r?'n i ' " ^^
husband-looking on" ^»« ^ Orleans, and-my
vit crenellar^I^irLHiXl:^^^^
FLOWER-0'.THE-COR\. 355
towers of some Titanic arehitecture. These alternately
revealed and concealed the moon, as they drifted
side of the black hemisphere of night to the other.
tafZt ^.^'^ f""" ^^"''^' """" ^'^'^"^ had attained
to the higher levels, spread out before her. plain as the
palm of a hand, save for those curiously h^aracteristic
underlymg limestone, stand up hke icebergs out of the
sea, irregular pmnacled, the dcbri. of temples destroyed
irte/r al 7"" f ;^— ^^P--' g-goyles. hidefus
monsters, all dejected in some unutterable catas-
trophe and become more horrible in the moonlight or
on the other hand modified to the divine calm of tho
"rtck ofTud umbrtlo™ ^^^" ^' ^""^^-^^^
And across this, witliout pause, quick-footed, self-
reliant, well-armed. Yvette took her way. Her
heart beat faster indeed, but it was with an excitemen
wholly pleasurable. She feared the lurking shapes of
V ht?r'''^'^ '"''"'*''' "° '^^^^ *h^" *h« easual sheep
which, having escaped from their flocks, had hidden
away m order to crop the grasses of the coming spring
time m the sheltered valleys, or where a few pLhes of
melting snow, with snowdrop and tufts of the small
cruci orm gentian, blue as turquoise, formed an Sre
sistible temptation.
A wonderful land, this of the Gausses, where the
ram never comes to stay. Indeed, it might as well
ram on a vast dry sponge thirty miles across and four
or five thousand feet in height. The sheep up there
when the dew is upon it. Yet from their milk the
eurious cheese caUed Roquefort is made, which, being
kept long m cool lime-stone ceilars-the cellules of
/
/.
^ff
366
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN
ii
I'
if 1
»weot h^fh r i^r- """P"- <'«'»rf ^^^' honey,
sweot heath from which it was distUled.
and Io™rtw"l''i'^''™'='"^8 «" «"> Uvea, true
and cSohV P " .'""" P*^ there-Huguenot
little W' ^T™"^ «nd Cadet of the Cro^, this
thesa^e toht "^/""■'^l? •""•'""«'• ^ ™
acti™ K • ,^r-, ^"^ ™fW. as it seemed to the
up Stcelergo'r^ebriaid'ei''"'''' •"''''"
sent wavenng gossamer-fine throueh soace tnr^
SDid«r U "^ .''°*P'''' *« -ot ^8 broken. The
-11^^°°™ '° •"'"""'' "i't the Superior Power
SpSom LTodTnd P"-?'"'" "" '^ mysterious ;
nidelvTwav tSTt r , ™ ° '°"°' *" ""' **""«
Shrwafa^r """"""f "' 'P'"'"'- """W -ot kelp her nature
the name of The flv , v T'""'' •'"»° "^^^^^ ^as
an active ^ ' On^/hfhad iri/^ ^^S'
In a sense he was so still T?nf lu , , °^®'
rzr r* *'>-^Vt"o^:iVer^x:i
no interest in her husband's fl°^ ^''^ '«"'
yot'trr tS roadTporte ft TtT ^'^':''
^er St T.'-^H"--^^^^^^
W V » ?'^ '"''"•"' ^^ '^« "as a shape which
had Yvette only stopped quickly enough, Z might
J -^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 357
haje seen stand stiU, instantly ti^rned to «fon«
between two blocks as bizarre in ^appCnce as tolf '
or, turning, she might have caught a shrdL fl ff '
tr:'%tmT-/r^ ^! ^ eLd;atfaL'f 2
waste, from boulder to boulder the Thm„ i- 1 "•
always following cIo«,ly. al^aytn^^^^^fj^^f'
nev« approaching too near nor^et^rmit inH't «W
to get 80 far away that one swift rush would not L?I
pursuer and pursued face to face "«
How many turn their heads, journeying across th,
wJdeniess, when there is no pursuer ! On ThHtW
hand, how many also are tracked, step byst™ f 1
refuge to covert, by a Fate wh^se iVtiuT!^!
heard, whoso presence never noted
The Thing that followed Yvett* wa« of I,,,™ .
and ran swiftly, but even had she Z,ed and IH
would instantly have stood so still up^™the TinZl' I
Yvette, however, her mind full of her mission went
on her way. foUowing the track mechanicaUy ^W
across the wast«, great wooden posts are seTi; launt
b:iiTno:^sT^r«''-^ *"-"«■> ">« '^»"--
discerned upon the highest roof of the ukac The
first low outposts could hardly be seen Th^^ J
had out up the ground to afford shelter to his troons
It was mteresting u, note the method of ?^ette
Toy s homecommg. Nothing of uncertainty-nothhic
of fear marked her approach to her ancient dw^^^
368
i:
FLOVVER-O'-THE-CORN.
pUco On the contrarv, her foot took on a mo,
oerta.n spring, her limos a new swiftnl "f moTo
m «he came elose to the walk of La Cavalerie
Among the many and grave faults of Mistress Yvett,
that of m«erlmess had no place. The livelyTadv™"
no „^ggard. Therefore she was weU served as to Z
inteUigenco department. '° ''*'
At the advance post she had the pass-word readv
Bgn and countersign, just as Catinat had arSd
them She went straight to the gatehou'r ftiU
tenanted by olC Elise. who had remafned Tthe d^
" cluTchT'lTh"""'"''' ""^ "" ''°""'°' br°»^ h n
Clutched in the summer dust under a h«nt
since the departure of Flower-o'-the Jom ' '^''
At the outer lines the flitting phantom' which h.A
accompanied Yyette across the^v^aste ofVey ^^^^^^^
stopped suddenly-not. as it appeared becTuse th«
trendies and sentinels P osented Ly p;rtiruZ HJ^^^
cu ty but solely becaus^ having coTvo^^d^ h^^^^^^^^^
far, Its mission was ended. ^
Yvette tap-r^d lightly on a window that still r»
mamod ht on the first storey, with one of the iL ^ ^
reeds of which the rude gafien ftncT: st ZS
"eLTof r„:'':ir -'"""^' - « « ^-^d h^^n
dark and grim and desolati to^^^^ue.^ "J^^ ™'
gH fc^nd herself in a swarm^ing n^t" oj^yo^^^ »":
en^J:d:'"° "^""^ ""^ ' " *" ^^ -f%. <» ahe
" Not yet," said the frowy hag, whose fondness for
"i^m&nv^-^'^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
.109
of the ,Ln, ?r:v2r^;-:;L°:a: trei f "r"
she grumbled Tf «,a« "y""er was late that night,
"ome of them no Srlh 7u"'^r ''''''^"'' '"d"'*'.
their gravity . Ahal . l'"'^ ''"""'' '"'■ *°' «"
6 c*vii.^ . An, tne tales she conlr? foil a i
would-aye, an she would ' " ''" "^®
woman's woX Stetll ^ ^"^ '"""'' """"^ <" *he
that of the Zun^ Tl ," ^ "P"!:' '"*'' *^' <">« «nd
heavii; »po1,"Ttaff "^ ' »<»»'«-"'ce eame in leaning
au"men': fae'ergre^fUurt, "'"' '''"'"'• """^
assured. origuter, their manner more
JCd^°l:,p tdTnV'^rT "T^ -'"■'
npwards on her elearS i^' i . '"""Phght shone
long exereise i^trSair Her''!*"'''" "'*" **■«
lie young man's staff feU clattering to the floor.
21
1 !
I
370
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ing with his hands at the empty air
hef rrms' '''"^'^ *'"''" ^*"'" ^""^ °°' *^" ^^'^ ^'^^ °"
whtV«' ^"'^ [''J^u^Tu ^ ^^"^ °° * ^°<xJ«° ««ttle ove:
herse/ '"^ ^^''^^ ^^" ^"'^' «^« «°»««d t<
" Good." she said, " this wiU make it easier. He
loves me still! Me. and none other ! "
I »»
t
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
The Easy Descent of Avzbkds.
cation whiih rn^™ Itj""".^ °' T'^'^'^y "PP""
lying upon them wh™ La ml^^ f "^ "^ *''<'
outside the reach of ptty '**'' "' "''""«' P"»» k™
comeThi^ri "t^'t.'LCu "ri" "'?!.'- '"'■'
view is aU arraiied Yo/ZT T / "*• ^ "*«'-
y»»- Any that are wan^l. r „' T; y°" ""'" ""»»'
trom the sturdy MloTt^ ° '"''P y°" *° "«™it
to the standard of rM^^hl? 7'^ ^^ ^'"^^>
wiU be deliehted to Zi^^^ ' ^^ Montrevel. They
Colonel tvahW sTTl^'^J"'^'"" » '»<>«' «
according to o^d«L»'" ""' **"* »" "^ k"??*"
wit?ihei:ri:^k'SorTr'^y '^ "« o~-.
height, or has b^^^etriZT^ach"' '"r^" * ^"^
expressive French, in w^S^r";." •■" """ ""'*
^er '"'"" °' "« "^ ^- ^^^hT:
Yes, ha was her own. haltered and handcnifed. to do
372
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I
t
tl
i
with as she would. And her purposes with her prisoner
were very definite indeed.
First of all she must get him down to the camp of
Millau, and to that she was now directing her energies.
Two methods commended themselves to her thought.
CavaUer's iiien might straggle away secretly, uniting
at the camp below, or they might march out of La
Cavalerie, pretending a raid on some neighbouring
Catholic village.
On th«^ whole, Yvette preferred the latter, both
because they could then enter the camp at Millau with
more eclat, and because they would be enabled to pro-
tect Jean Cavalier on his way down.
As for Yvette the aventuriere, that little woman
never for a moment doubted her power to protect
herself.
Jean Cavalier sat near her in the upper chamber
of the Gate Tower, to which still clung a certain
odour of cloves and eau-de-vie, the special bouquet of
Elise the Aged. The young man did not seem able to
remove his eyes from her face. He had thought that
the spell was broken, but he was now fatally to discover
his mistake. As in a dream he listened to Yvette giving
her commands to the men who had cast in their lot
with his, and declared their willingness to follow him
alone over the world.
" And do you," she spoke to two lads who stood
shyly together in a corner, " go and find a couple of
horses for us to ride upon. It is necessary that I
should be back before the day. I do not choose to
return with you, and, owing to his wound, Cavalier
here cannot, as you men can, find his way to Millau at
a wolf's trot ! Haste you, then. Bring the horses ! "
" Madame," said one of the young men, the son of
Castanet, a noted leader of the Camisards of the elder
'^:^wi^
■w:\:^m^jM;.^<^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 373
and more sober faction. " it is not so easy to find two
horses in La Cavalerie at such short notice, and spe-
cially difficult to get them beyond the barriers without
any questions being asked."
"No matter," she answered, imperiously, "you
must do it. I say so!" ^
And though formerly she had been to them but
Yvette Foy, the daughter of the innkeeper of La Cava-
lerie, yet such a vivid charm of natural command
perhaps also such a fascination of beauty and the pride
of life, disengaged themselves from this gu-1, that the
two young men saluted without a single other word
spoken, and went out on their quest.
With a long sigh she laid her hand, palm down-
iThI ;-,r?u \* ""^ ;^'^" ^^^^"^^- "We wiU wait a
nttle till they have had time to obey me ' "
Now it seemed even to Cavalier that something had
mdeed departed from him. The word was no longer
Za fl^- 1^^ P°^^' *° '^^^ ^'^d *« be obeyed
had fled. True, some few of the men whom he
had commanded in war, ten against a thousand
who had seen him in the van of a forlorn hope, or
cheering them on with words of hope on his lips as
.TKr*'^, f *^^'' ^"^^y ^" ^^^ ^^y breaking dawn,
still blindly clave to him. ^ "'u.
They did not know, what Cavalier himself knew, that
the man they worshipped was dead. A woman had
taken the life out of him, and only the poor outer shell
remained o all that had been Jean Cavalier-the
man who. like Enoch, had walked with God. and had
been to his fellow-men as a god
♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦
The horses went sturabhng down the steep descent
into the valley of the Tarn. The snow had everywhere
disappeared and the whole Causse was warm and
374
FLOWEE-O'-THE-CORN.
Tsoiew clean and cool as from an icehouse.
cloSs Tdt^:^ «-»k behind great and threatening
et B h?CF- =- --^^^^^^
£ftr^rwL-t2hro^:rr
n«lta1l "? "^ ^'^ «'^'" ^^ of thTfaithful) btn
Whet^ tr'' '"""'•'^ di^l'Pearance of its Jaatr
.kZ^^ ^ ^*^ '"h ''hich the eiodus had been
It^u ""^ "^""y accidental may have som«
nCh^T "P°° '* "y " "o-vemtion Xch Ck
to comtlr;^'"" ««'-> advantageously placed sZ
miau°taTl ^* approaches from the direction of
aTL'^teoTth^^S^e-"'' ''' "-*«-"
bryht blue, but was in this case of its natur/colour
as compamon- whose long unkempt l^ks feS
oX^T *""* 'Tr'^ °° ^ back, wore only the
fh. ^ ^^ "® ^V^ *^^* y*^" «aw her, Martin « » said
Drenar^ ^ i ^^I ^^''^^^ **^« ^^d. even if he have
prepared death and slaughters for her— av« nL 7
those with whom she hat^chosen to comp:^;' .'» er^d'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
375
thJ^rt^hlt °' ^"''"^ "'' P"'"*^ -"> '•- "and to
and him who hath caused her to be a fnnnf ^ '
JNow Catinat himself could out-Horod Herod »f
h.s sort of denunciation, but at this present he wanted
"• SX-re'-a^^r h^^tL^t •?' ^^ ^ -"
Mt^^.ir^^Lrtc:;i:;--r"
in tf? ?. '' T**^'^^ '"*^'" ^« thought, " but then
in the meantime he is useful • " ""t tnen
" " J*^« y«"Jg and the foohsh," Martin Foy answered
us-t:rvou ""f '*-"^ ^^'^^^ - P^-^ ^"t
{praisebertheH ."^r f^^^'^ ^^'^^^»' b-^—
praise be to the Highest) we have no sons of our flesh
flat^Hnfto:::^
tho' Irrf "'" ^^r^^ fiercely with his hand towards
!^1T T.T'' ^°°^"" ^ *^« duelling of thlZ
as dance to the pipe and the psaltery, such as for
the tempting of the flesh make sweet me odT aU 'ul
as love beauty and favour «Knx,. ^».» ^..f . ?,' , ^""P^
above the word of the Lord.
>>
376
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
II M
i
.rZ^? 7k*' '"'"''' y°" ■ Com when it fa green
green and burstmg-tasteful berries that are stml^'
rtz:LT..x« h Tu ^- ■""'- ">'" ^ -' ™;
f."!^ .u • ^"^ ''^ '*" ""° « kind of ehaunt "What
8a.th the w.se man, ' Keep a sure watch over a shamo
ess daughter, lest she make thee a laughTng stoelto"
thine enemies, a by-word in the city. Behofd not th°
body s beauty, nor sit in the midst of women Fo out
ness ! Better a ehurhsh man than a courteous woman
rlJoTc'h I?*" """"="' '^''o "^-S^'" -'y ^har::^
ov:r"hf wKntm " T "^ ""fT "^'^ -««•
^f ii , xucin B lu , n. Heed not what is said
of another by anothe.. This woman is yourTn
daughter_aU of your kin that is left to yorshlS
a man destroy his own flesh-surely no but no,,,; k
and cherish it ? " ' ' "' nounsh
H»"^*^K':J"'"*'*J''*"^''y■ *'^™g back his grey locks
dank with dews of night. " if indeed she be my^TuBhte
according to the flesh, what then did JephtlfahT Md
i.ot delay to flee from destruction because of his un-
f.utUul wrfe ? Or did Jehu turn aside his foot from
treading upon Jezebe! beneath the window .'4^
because, orsooth, she was the daughter o. ^^,
.N.vy verily, her blood spurted against the waU afj
the dogs cracked her bones in the gutter u^U^'sun
do™. And so be it with all wicked daughter^ "
At which Catinat, old veteran of the wL as he was
whose ears had heard many thing., beside the crS
«. cannon, shuddered as he listen^. But he didTot
agam try to moUify the madman's hate
" It IS weU," he said, nodding, " or, at least, it is
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
377
your own affair, Martin Foy ! But teU me for what
cause are so many of our young men gathered together' '
not tiat '^^olZ'fl ''P''^." ^" ^''^'^' ^'^d y^^ know
not tnat ! cackled the maniac ; " it is only that she
who was my daughter may lead them'^down to
the King's camp in Millau, as fools are led to the correct
tion of the stocks ! " ^oixec
Catinat caught him by the wrist
SaZ^^' f"^"":. "^'^ """^ y^" *^" ™« «o before ? » he
said fiercely; 'this must be stopped, and instantly. I
will go and call out the guard. These treacherous
persons shall see that there are still faithful mJn-
true Brothers of the Way-in La Cavalerie ! "
Ihe madman caught him by the thick tail of his
shepherd's cloak as he turned hurriedly awry
Are a// captains fools ? " he said, fiercely, "have
they no heads given to them better filled than those If
cabbages? Hath God bereft them all of \dts ,n
MaT;?nFo/™- "'"'°'"^' A„dhis„a»el Why.
The wild „a„ laughed, uncontroUably.
^„„. '., i ""f ***'='' '°'' y°"' Sieur Catinat," he
these bitter mghts, with tl>e white fog of the earth
he^rat^B^f ;".''^'' ?" ^'^ ""^ "'" "-^ »"
tne rack. But do I complain ? Have you lieard -i
complaint from Martin Foy I But must'i ahHtok
No no"' fYlT "''"^'' "'■""' ">« f""' «^" '^""""tl
"0, no . let them go-down, down into the camp of
fcT.jii
378
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
the King. I will go with them. Thev shall nof
escape from me ! There is no knife ^ the wo id ^o
ht7wrsr°^fn^^^^-' He sharpenedTi;::
oth^r nul'^doL* V t' 1!^ ^°°*' '^'^^ *° '^^^ him the
other put down his hand to touch the place.
Was thlr; « .' " *h^^«-^hat think you of that ?
Was there ever whe ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^
knife? It would divide an ox's neck at one blow
given slowly with a d^aw, as I know how'or tZ
the dark fine hairs off the swan-bill upper L of -of
my lady daughter ! " ^^ ^ °^
And the maniac sent peal after peal of weird laui^hfpr
across the waste, tiU in fear that^he alZ w3 1
given prematurely. Catinat sprang upo^Wm and
placed his hands across his mouth
" Hush, fool ! " he hiss*./! " A^
aU ? " ' *^° y°" ^^^^ to spoil
llie wild man of the Gausses checked himself and
wagged his head with solemnity.
I fZnV°^" ^^ ^^^' ""^'^ *'*^'^3^' "I will be sage
-^^u? 1 ^ ^'^ *P* *« ^O'get nowadays But the
mirthfulness of it tickles a man's n.driff'^ * ^^ ^re
aU so clever— these young men thfi K-m,,'. « ^ i !
He took his laugh out i,. a gurghng rapture,
ce^ii' Z? fT" *•" *''™' ^"^ observance of a
"» lAvalene that the troop of discontented and
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 379
^aflfected among the Camisards was permitted to take
devise^ln^ A^^^ "' P"'«^^ ^'^'"^ *1^««« that
aevise iniquity ! Are ye content ? "
and wi^/'*'' *^^'^ "^T ""^"y '^'•^ °^ heart-fathers
and brethren among that assembly, thev resnonded
aU with one voice. " We are with y^u, ArdiaXl,
wUh you to the death, only for certain of these thTg
our old eyes are dim ! Pardon us ! The lad was
young and in somewise held our hearts ' »
a
•1 li
i
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Spidek's Last Web.
Tuos it chanced that at MiUau, deep in the Tam valley
where the Causses approach most closely tK,gethIr aS
yet leave room for gardens and woodlets and islands
on the broad stiU stream, most of those who have ptv^
their part m this history were coUected-with one e^
ccption, which in due time shaU appear
There was (to begin with) M. le Mar^chal de Mont
of the first mUitary kingdom in the world as it w^a
Possib e f . „,„ t„ look-broad, ruddy of counten
ance, bluff with a sailor's bluffness, a sturdy outS"
doors man with little desire for moneV or gr^Mon'
«^o took his pleasures much as he took fhe wSer-
as they came— yet who '-k** «!! hia ^
looked forward to' dyingl goo^d Ca tholTtSTs"?'
and so getting the benefit of such chi.rch^y influence
Nejct there was (and there is no need to say a word
about her) Mistress Yvette. There was-thL oouU
be but one Yvette. Her little head was stm^ fuU If
ohem^ that she felt she would like to undertake tl^
ove affairs of the entire army of the High Stennes
o arrange a 1 the re^ez,^, to solve aU the dMcXL
and-to write aU the love letters. She was tot 7o
.lover, however, as not to know that, after TZ
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN 381
rHnn'^ir* "'^'? ^^ <'Ievrmcss, but that somewhere
behind there waits a prand simplicity, at once child-
l-ke and mevitable. which in a moment cuts the knot
of a myriad complicated diplomacies.
But Yvette had not found this out. so she laughed
and chatted and went hither and thither, already a little
weary of her ro., and ready to begin another so soon
as this one should be safely out of hand
Fl^.?' 'I'!! 'V^^ ^T^ °^ ^^^ Mar6chal, there abode
Flower-o -the-Com. daily growing more like a Lenten
lily tlian the sunburnt cornflower of those hot davs of
July when most fiercely the dog-star rages.
Down in the parade-ground, assisted— in the French
sense-by hundreds of interested and sarcastic on-
lookers of all arms of the service. Jean Cav.-^er and
his men eocercised-the former stiU a little lame from
his wound but in even the opinion of his enemies,
having m him the makings of a fine, dashing, upstand-
mg officer. ^
In the outer prison, with a room to himself and the
comfort of books, pens, and paper, sat Patrick WeU-
wood. And in the inner, his feet fast in the stocks, or
at least m the iron rings provided for the recalcitrant
was our poor Maurice Raith. condemned to death as a
spy, deserted by those who ought to have succoured
him, disowned by the men who had sent him to do
their work, and with only one heart in the whole world
to heep a warm spot for him.
It chanced, however, that that warm-nested heart
was the only one Maurice Raith cared about So
that, m respect of affection, there were many worse off
than the condemned spy and prisoner of his most
Christian Majesty, the King of France.
.J.'''' f^^ ^^^^^ '" "^^'"^ ^'^ memory flourished was
that of Frances Wellwood. So in the main-come
i'^itnan :s-. r«^-^
882
I
f
hit
s>
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Mfo, come death-it was weU. and very weU with
wn" ^!. u "■' ^^"^ " '**'^ Y^®^*« *o herself as she
warmed her toes at the not unwelcome blaze For
even m the ront of spring the crackling of logs Ta
fall. The high Gausses are so near, the ice yet blue in
their unsunned caves, the snow scarce cleared from
behmd the stone walls of their sheepfolds.
And for Yvette. so far as her own purview went all
with the devotion of a heart that for the first time had
known love, which had not wasted itself on a Tre of
objects. Yet in this very constancy was the peril of
Flower-o'-the-Com lay the power of the evU woman.
The Marshal had replied out of the stoutness of his
r.f'^'/.^'^x.*^" straightness of his purpose to the
etter of the King. He had put off the day of Maurice's
trial by court-martial tiU the return messageTm
Versailles should be received. And when if cam^
lo! even as he had anticipated, the purport was
worse than at the first. ^ ^
So when Flower-o'-the-Com came down one mominK
from her bedroom, pale and of eye uncheerful. having
slept bttle, as she entered the chamber which they had
chosen for a winter parlour (looking towards the Lth
and with the sunlight ever on the windows) she
came upon Yvette apparently sobbing her heart out
hlhre^r^ ^^^^"^ '^^'''^ '^^ ^^'^^"^ °'' *^® ^^^^^
"It has come," she said, without looking up and
continuing to sob. * ^
" What has come ? " questioned Flower-o'-the-Com.
^ffl
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 333
She let the paper fall from her hand
1 cannot read it." she smVl " f«ii
is if i'q ;* J •. ^"' "^" me quicklv
;f-« »<^-doe8 It mention my father ? » ^ *
J^ot your father," said Yvette. a little scornfullv
H^i:firSt^-t:re!^^r-ho. '.;
beati^g'^o^hertar"' "■""' '''""^' ''«'"'"«' "^ "■»
wiu be. Nothing can save him-nothing Mv h„7
Xr hir ^"""^ *<• '-" "'» piaiiitX he-
girf Xtath^™.'""''"' *' ^™«<'- She saw the
gin was watching her every movement At =„„i,
.mes the wits of women work quicker a°ds«ter th^n
he slower ratiooinations of mankind. For the fl«t
time she understood. Suddenjv with an i^fi~f
e :t"f te' "' ^1 ''^ "^^'-Vfl'sherfrotr
IZ. *^, ? ''««'-»*« *««,/ Yvette's tears were
crocodde tears. She hated Maurice. Sh^^dTJ^
tried to save him. She hated her. Francis WellwoTd
because he loved her. She wishek to punish M
that w^ch she had not done-nor, ind'^^ed, had ever
^med of domg. And oace a woman se4, nothto^
can ever shut her eyes again. The rift withir^ ^e lutf
■Ui
• - ft
)
.184
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
can never be made whole, though there are various
piasters and hgatures recommended by the facultv
and even worn and certificated by some. '
For a long moment the girl thought of casting her-
Hcif upon the mercy of the Marshal. But the doubt
whether apart from his wife, ho could do anything, or
wou d if he could, deterred her. And. meantime.
Yvette contmued to watch her keenly. She had seen
distrust and dislike forming themselves behind the
blue eyes of Frances Wellwood.
^ In an instant her great black eyes began to sparkle
fthe drew a deep breath indicative of determination to
have matters put on nn intelligible footing That
was a game at which Yvette could give as good as she
got, and ordinarily a great deal better. The eyes of
the two women met and stayed. There was a strugKle
twixt black and blue, and for the moment the black
had the better of the strife-perhaps because they had
the less to lose. But Yvette was a woman who would
do as much to spite a rival, or to revenge herself
upon a man who had escaped from her snare, as a
better woman would to save the life of a husband or
a lover.
And in this lay her danger, perhaps also some pare
of her charm k\,r some there be who are fond of
snakes, beautiful, with glancing scales and arching
necks, with tongues that flicker rnd eves like jewels
Such are wont to say to themselves-" Let us fiU our
cups with costly wine and crown us with rosebuds
oZlT'^^rl''''t" '^" ^,"" "'^^^ '' ^^' "^^ *« worship
Queen Ldith. the snake-woman, whom Adam had
before the coming of Eve." And there is that in the
heart of every man which would almost compel him
against his wiU to this worship. And if by good hap
and the strength of That which is Higher he escape
FLOVVER-O'-THE-CORX.
38 ri
there remains yet within him . ^ .
cannot say, *''™ * '*'^*' a*' of one who
I h.v let no flower of the Spring p^„. by,
firsutrU^tn^^^^^ recognised for the
wood said in aTaKl^tVe °"i;^^^^^^
have me do to save him ? Tdl 1 ^ r m?"'^ '''°"
For with #»,« «;*V , " ™*^' *"d ^ w 11 do it ' "
coJe^^'LtnS'oT^l"" "°''^™' ""''*"•" »^«''
untruthfulne*, aboit her To hi?'?^ '.!" "'"'*^'" *■"*
^ evil. She w„ it, St Jnd'jriX" """"""""
m this, of course lilri> nil . j
only taken advantaire ^f ■*''"-'^™- ^he had
were) helped therX^heli^r "'•"•''' ""' '^ "
Wellto.:^ TmaTe'S dt "?"' '^ "^J^' ^™°-
where it li«teth and outt? r"""- ^"^ ''^<' W<»<'«
ne« of space tC G ka^ 3/'«"^•'""' ^^P""
armed cap-A-pie, the cerSv^fK ".'"'' """"P'"'"'
treachery No wonL o^n ^ ° ^" '™"<' Y™""'"
msta„t2:eou2:"te coi^^t: ""• "'." """""«
analyse iti effect upon FloTe "XZ?"' But' ""
there was mom fJin^ u " ""o-vxirn. iJut since
away evc^^ « ^oneT.'"'' '' P"""' »'"' "•»■'
as she saw that they were of n^ „ r ^ ^^'"^ ^"^ -^^*'
^ were of no use, as fractious children
25
9N
m
It '
386
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
stop crying when shut in a garret where no one can
hear them. " What have / to do with the matter ?
" Everything ! " said Flower-o'-the-Com, with more
than the sternness of a man.
" You forget our positions," cried Yvette. " I am
the wife of »
" I know," said Flower-o'-the-Corn— " of an honest
man ! "
Yvette controlled herself. There is no room for the
more dramatic iorms of passioi. in Spider-land. Webs
must be woven mathematically. When one has to
spm the ropes out of one's own body and do problems
with one's head involving angles, cosines, connections
and the strength of materials aU at the same time'
anything in the shape of a common vulgar quarrel
had better be avoided.
" Tell me ! " repeated Frances, with the pertinacity
of the naturally unsuspicious.
" Well, then," said Yvette, " so far as I know (and
my husband is with me in this), there is but one thing
that can save the life of the spy, Maurice Raith, and
It may be that also of your father— that you shall
immediately consent to be married to Colonel CavaUer "
Flower-o'-the-Corn paled to the lips and then slowly
became scarlet again, as the tides of shame flooded
back to her cheek.
" And tell me why you propose this to me," she
said. "I hardly know the man. And how wiU that
save the life of Maurice Raith or that of my father
if, as you say, that be at stake ? " '
For the fraction of a second Yvette lesitated It
was mdeed not so easy a question to answer, even
though she had been preparing for it some time. A
faint flush rose to her cheek, on which such signals of
distress were not often hung out.
am
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN 357
lona M,, I 1, ^* ^^® ^*^ has continued too
j«™™.,.,,.'.Si,Ks.''t:'^.r.,,"'":
war m the Low Countries or in Germany He hZ
fo« to please Madame de Maintenon this vounKmlt
must die— one for many ! " ^""ng man
Com°'h,r^ '"*" »'«'«'«tand!" said Flower-o'-the-
™^. ^,' '""' *" I *° «'™ his life ? "
the far "tf"''' ^™"'' '°°'''°8 "' •"=' ^t™i«ht in
the face, ,f wo can persuade the King that thn
SStw."" ^^.'"^^ """"S themselve^if we can
tTlht V r.?,' '°" ''""^y ■*P»«°t» with full ranks
to fight his battles, with Colonel Jean Cavalier at th»
head of thcm-if that commander takes to Court Ifh
m'r tSTi^l 'ovely bride-we shau"^"" I't
make the Kmg forget his enmity to this Endish
soldi„. whom even his own people^ave disowned "
" the? • e 7L T' T"^'^^ °" ""^ defensive,
men t e Kmg wUl pardon Maurice Raith if I
«iithr:h.^n™"."'^^""'^' ^'"^"'"^
V
388
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
Il
It was close fighting now, closer than hand to hand,
as only women can encounter. A man may love
battle for its own sake and be a hero, and without being
a heroine Yvette loved the stress of combat, the push
of pikes, as never man did. To be m a difficulty
insoluble to all others, to be shut in a seeming hopeless
cul-de-sac — these were more to Yvette Foy than the
utmost pleasures of sense. She would rather have
been Satan plotting against an omnipotent, omniscent
Ruler, than have companied with Michael and that
Other when they marshalled the stars or ever the
foundations of Paradise were laid.
For the Power that worketh in darkness has fdao
servants who serve liim for love alone. And among
all his emissaries he i^ias none so useful as these.
" His Majesty has not yet expressed himself— that
is, exactly," said Yvette, meetmg Flower-o'-the-Corn's
look squarely, " but all the same it is so in effect. If
you will marry the young chief of the Camisard regi-
ments, it is clear that many hundreds who are now
wavering wiU join us at once. You are the daughter
of theh- greatest preacher, of the man who only the
other day set all their hearts on fire, so that they would
have followed him to the ends of the earth. Your
adhesion will help us enormously. Also it will save
the young man's life— it wiD re-<«tablish my husband's
credit, and "
" In fact, you offer me the life of the man I love as
the price of my honour ! "
" It is no dishonour for any woman to marry a good
man. Mistress Frances ! " said Yvette, keenly.
" As you should best know ! " retorted Flower-o'-
the-Corn.
Yvette bent her head. There was this of good about
her. She had no evil to speak concerning her husband.
\«^-7^y'-r^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 389
de yjl^'^^'^ ^JT' ^ '"*° ^^"^^ *^*° ^^^^^^^^
ae iiaume does not breathe ! "
^en having as it were cleared her conscience.
^i^h'^Cion"'^"''' ^'^ «°*' '^P^^*^'^^ -*-^^y
"You confess, then, that you love this spy-
!hf worW r ' "' '"''^ '"^^^'^ establishment in
Frances nodded gravely and proudly.
I love him ! " she answered.
Yvette smiled a bitter smile, and rustled with light
reflective amusement the leaves of a small red book
f'mrnt'haT ^"^°" "^^"^^'^"'^ ^ ^ ^^"-^'^'
I wish rt pertamed to me. T find a note here under
date of the twentieth of December. It concerns
the salon of the Bon Chretien at La Cavalerland
certain thmgs which befel there. Mademoiselle should
keep a diary— as I do ! "
th^r^^^"^ 1°"^.* 'i ^ necessary." said Flower-o'-
r.l Tv!- ^'^ "" ^^' *"™' "^^^''^ *re «o many
certam thmgs to be remembered. I have only to charge
V™ H T^^^ few things and those easily retainedf"
Yvette tnUed with mocking laughter.
" You mistake," she said, sobering a little, " I am
no caged turtle-dove, the whiteness of whose feathers is
pots The little more and the little less are equal to me
I take my place in the world of men as comrade and
welt l^'^'^'Y^yi^^Sl You,notI.arethefeather-
^-ethered by the silken thread of 'What savsthis one ? 'and
What says that ? ' For me I care not what any says • "
M:
:3s(S;
SS"<,3
I
CHAPTER XL.
A Flower op Evil.
•' Then, I take it, you wiU marry Colonel Cavalier ? "
It was Yvette who was speaking
die"t^i:: otrl ■■""■' *'^"'"' ^'^ -""> "*"«
f .I'l' K-^ ^a^" *° ' ^"*- «"'> yo" "an go to him and
s^Te Wm h, t f- "\"''«« »'««' who are wiUing to
CetomoptUr ''"" " •""" *° *'°-'-
She pointed with her hand to the door. There were
unpOTi^ m the righteousness of her indignation
And you say that you love him ! " she addp,! ;„
a lower tone and with concentred ironyT " why t^
save the man I loved from death I would maTZl,"
A marshal o France ? " put in Frances. qXly
"solof fh ' '""t ^^^"^' K-^^ kumoured^y;
some of them are, indeed, no handsomer than thev
?f..v; thlTf 'T^." "^" '"°-) Nicholas de BaumT
J.0 «ive the hfo of the man I loved I would marrv
lZ2^,« '\ ^""^ "^ "8ged shirt hanging out
"?„5 1, T*-*y« ' » «'■* no coat at aU "
And what guarantee have I that his life will
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 391
be spared, if I consented to marry this man ? " said
*Iower-o*-the-Com, shrewdly.
" We will send Captain Raith into Spain with BiUy
the gipsy, his sei-vant," said Yvette, promptly, who
had thought the matter over, " and once he is in
safety. Bet will come back and tcU you. You can
trust her. Then, and not tiU then, you shall marry
Jean Cavalier. Your father must remain to do his
office, and to be a hostage for your complaisance ! "
I agree," said Flower-o'-the-Com, with prompt-
ness I wiU marry this man to save the life of Maurice
Kaith. But, first, I must see him and tell him why ! "
^^ " As to that," said Yvette, with an air of reflection,
you can, of course, please yourself, but if you take
my advice yoi ^ill do nothing of the kind. He would
not believe you ! "
"Of that I must take my chance," said Flower-
o -the-Com, sadly ; " at least, I can teU him the truth."
■' Then I shall see to it that the interview is granted
you," said Yvette. "I wiU speak concerning the permit
to my husband."
Flower-o'-the-Com stood looking at her. A sudden
thought flushed her cheek with a new hope. But in
another moment she knew that it also was in vain.
" But will Jean Cavalier wish to marry me « " she
said.
Yvette took a hand-mirror of Venice glass, breathed
on It, and polished it carefully with her silken sleeve.
(In some things she was still the " gamine " of the
streets, as in the days before her father " put on the
white shirt," as giving in his adhesion to the extreme
Camisard party was denominated.
" Look ! " she said ; " would any man in his right
mind refuse to marry that ? "
i,^ Without thinking much of what she was doing.
1
,^,^ -Qtaird sg£i ^T^^Tii^rv »{£&2r.
392
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
ici,mng w) say to Colonel Jean Cavalipr »m.«c««*i
m the service of hi. Majesty Ku.g LoS feSi''
u^; ..! :r ff ^;i^. ^-- -- - ^o^^ sta„a
he t^ the straight path 'oTdo.fsSt duj^ Z^^^
If he had been one of his own corporals. If he had
other:*""" pT """'"' °* peace, i? might have be^f
otherwise. But as it was. Nicholas de Baumllov^S
the leafy shade and quiet side of life. He hTd but 1
he
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 393
few years to live, he was wont to say. and any quarrels
m wh,ch he was compelled to take ^'art musf b'e Ze
?w .^T^ ^""^ most eminently Christian Majesty
Louis the Great. So for the sake of a quiet life in all
unessentials he was content to serve hi wife and to
please her judging it better (as he also said"g r
So ill the disposal of her own time and of her hus-
band's influence, Yvette had a free hand. No chUd
of tt « 1 i° It "J'*^^"^ ^^"^ *^«'^ ^«« nothing
P a sant^to^^^^^ ''""' ^^"^"" «^^ -^ - --
plaisant to the soldier on guard, or to Billy MarshaU
remitted from the guard-house and set to^^ dig
and count^f "m ^^''^"'*^'^ ^"^^-' ^« ^ duke!
and counts of noblest lineage who came to oflFer duty
^ve^T." *° ''^ """^^'^ representative in the m^
Yvette's faults were as the stars of heaven (or in a
number TX'°I' T ^ ^^'^^ ^ *^^ sea-sho^ jl^
number, but she had, though not perhaps so obviously
her vn^ues also. For instance, she was good-humoured
and generous so long as it cost her nothing beyond a
SSrso'r''''t°"*°^ Shewafneve
sp teful so long as her projects were not interfered
so and it was one of her mottoes that one never knows
when one may nee.l an aUy. Yvetto did not disdain
to make friends with the Mammon of Unrightor
ness. She knew the value of money, the power of
every smgle golden shield, stamped with t^he mies
Sn'"'h M ?' ^^"^ "^ ''' "«^^"^"^«« «^« ^^o knew
So when Madame La Marechale put her hand upon
the coat-sleeve of the commandant of the milit ^^y
.n
^^'i:y'm^
394
FLOWKR-O'-THE-CORN.
ill
111:
pnson. and with sweet particularity of speech whisperec
her wants into his ear, that worthy officer felt his hear
stirred as it had not been by aU the privileges of tha
domesticity which he had enjoyed for years.
Or again when Madame, in dainty furs and the
prettiest of boots, stood upon the verge of a floodec
dyke (at least two feet wide and as several inches deep)
It was that squire of dames, the gallant Bechet, sergeant
major and chief of the transport, who helped hei
across, and neither forgot it, nor spoke of it, to hit
dying day— fighting, indeed, a duel to the death agamst
a chance defamer of her good name. These, and such
as these, were Yvette's friends, and in the day of need
they stooQ close about her, a quick, wiUing. ready,
devoted array, faithful at a time when the Mammon
of Unrigh^ousness would have taken to itself wings
and fled away to the place appointed for such dross.
So when Yvette desired to speak to Maurice, there
was for her a plain road and a readv— Monsieur Bechet
attendmg her with his keys, and waiting decorously
at the end of the passage for her outgate, in order
to show that he had no desire to overhear what so
charming a lady might have to say to his English
prisoner.
So in like manner when it was Colonel Cavalier whose
prestuce was desired in the Mar^chale's chamber— lo '
his exceUency her husband was ready to absent
himself. His soldier servant mounted guard on the
s^irs to see that Madame was in no way disturbed
The very guard at the door told lies for her sake
cursing only under their breaths to think that any
Protestant "pequin," "caniche," " barbet," should
share the favours of so sweet a lady.
But to Jean Cavalier, marching and counter-march-
ing Ihither and thither on the military exercise-ground
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
396
down by the side of the Tarn, almost within gun-shot
K i. f "L^ '" *^' proximity of Yvette, the wife of
^ icholas de Baume, Marshal of France
It was not that he had any hatred in his heart
agamst the woman who had made him love her Af"
aU. he had never asked her whether she was married
or single. Only his heart had gone out to her a"d-
God forgive him, he loved her still. Did he sav '' God
orf;;L''H:^r^ ^r^- «^ -verTuld'^bf
lorgiven. He had sinned the unpardonable sin
Henceforward it only remained for him L march accodl
ing to orders, to fight as a mercenary in the ar^; of
dp!th r^t ? *"J'^' ^""^-'^^ «^°«r ^^ eould find
him. withm the bounds of the same camp, was the
the cool filtered Lght of a moist spring afternoon her
feummons came to him. ^iw^rnoon ner
He went-as he would have gone to God's judgments
seat, without either fear or hope, simply because the
order had come to him. He waVin the lod in wh Lh
w!„^°/''^.^.1 Buckingham, or Charlotte clrday
went straight from the Girondist circles of Caen t^
put her knife in Marat.
But Yvette had other and softer uses for her slave
Know^ that she did not by any means look her bl^^^
m the grey semi-twilight of the Tarn vallerwhen the
Y^etT'^K' T *'^ """^ cloud-spume o^^' the sou th!
fSeT.H f^l '""'^^'^"^ ^^^'^^^^^ «^ -mature
ner todette. A bunch of scarlet berries was in her
^fw^'^' f °^ °° fa"' fa°«°^ »°otfa^^ both plac^
with the instinctive rightnese of the arti;t ^
Cavalier entered. The dead sombre lassitude of hia
396
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
eye took on a glow momentarily brighter. This mai
had wandered m the gardens called of Sodom am
Gomoirah. where the apples are few and very bitter
Ho had learned the lesson that upon earth, only th«
smner can judge of sin, or know aught of its heious-
might hope that he, Jean Cavalier, might yet escape
did Lot, but he knew that he was left on the plains oi
lire as a memorial for ever.
For in this matter a man standeth or falleth to
his own God— that is, to his own soul
Cavalier stood facing Yvette. She advanced and
held out her hand. He was growing old. though no
more than two-and-twenty years of his age. His hair
was already greying and the freshness of boyhood had
passed from his cheek.
He took the hand of the woman he loved, but his
hps did not utter a sound. Only a quiver ran through
his hmbs-somethmg, as it seemed, between a sigh
and a shudder. His eye became fixed and immoble.
"I hoThL^' '*'*°^^ ^^^ """^ °^ *^' ^^'"^'"^ ""^^^^
" I have sent for you," she said, keeping the bright
spark m either eye fixed upon him ; « I have somewhat
to say to you. '
Cavalier bowed without speaking
lier words ; I wish you to marry her."
Cavalier maintained his attitude, 'if anything his
face grew paler than before, but the difference was so
slight as to be ahnost invisible. He waited further
information-not explanations. With these Yvette
did not propose to trouble him. She knew that she
need not to "play fine " with a man so simple and
fm^m^'^w
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN. 397
natural. Finesse was only thrown away. She would
tell him just what she chose. It was her will She
" held him." That was enough.
" For all our sakee you must carry a good force to
the King," she said ; " we must noJ- leave the Ccvennes
half pacified. The Pastor WeUwood is of great power
among the fanatics. You are to marry his daughter
By so doing you wiU save my husband— more, you
will save me ! "
" You bid me to do this ? " He r^id the words
simply, like a schoolboy repeating his instructions to
make sure of them.
" I do bid you ! " she said as simply, without the
least heat or emphasis. The thing was simply final
for Jean Cavalier, and the woman knew it. Whence
had she this power, and for what purpose was it given ?
Yvette felt that any further words were unnecessary.
Save for her natural compassion she might now have
ordered him to the door like a servitor. But of her own
free will she added somewhat by way of explanation.
" Three lives are forfeit to the King— yours as a
.ebel and a leader of rebels, Patrick WeUwood's as a
preacher and a fanatic, and that of Maurice Raith as a
spy. By marrying the girl you can save all three.
The King has promised it. His word is his word."
•' But I love you. It has not passed from me— that
which I told you ! It is my doom ! " said Cavalier.
"The more reason that this marriage should take
place— were it only for my sake ! " interjected Yvette.
"Your mere presence in the camp compromises my
good name ! "
" But the girl," faltered Cavalier, " she will not—
that is, she may not. I have only seen her once or
twice in the presence of her father. And even then
it seemed to me "
^^^T^mm^^^w^^'^i^'^m'^^W'
808
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
" S T^*i* T"^ **; y°" * " ••^d Yvette, sharply.
That she loved another 1 " "^F*/-
" His name ? "
•' In^ ^'?^"? ^^^"•'J^^^n-her countryman I "
And did It seem to you," she added, with an in-
voluntary sneer, "since your faculties were JTo^
servant, that her affection found a ret™ ? ' ""^
«n,«i ^.?^®°»^* to «ay." answered the young man
" That Maurice Raith loved her ? "
" Yes ! "
1- ^^^t^./*f.to°ed her little sharp teeth in her own
hp and bj^ tm a bead of scarlet appeared upon her ch^
to hnfh .t .1^ ^'' °°^' ^ ^ ^'^^^ ^ l^oW the knife
to both their throats!" she murmured, in a fierce
undertone^ But aloud she said. This wS Le us
all-my honour, the Marshal's credit, your ov^
influence he Uves of three at least-and besides ma7
areyoubhnd? She is beautiful ! Certes. Ze a^
he:;^°LTa'iiNi:sr^ '''^* ^^^ ''' °^^ -^^^^
«. J^^^.Y'^^**^' daughter of the Old Serpent, having
atta^^ed her purpose, was inclined to be ^cious af"f
his^aL'!"'' ^""^ "^"^ *''^°" ^^ "^^^ ^^' ^^°^ "Po°
" Why then." she said, " the sooner you begin vour
ove-makmg the better! There remaL bTshort
time m which to do so much."
She lifted up her face to him with an arch gleefuhiess
daintily mischievous. g^eeiumess,
" So. pleasant though such things can be made, I
:W^*^?i,?f^%
'^£^:^^^-X
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 300
muit ask you to oat short the preliminaries. Only
before you go I " '
She stoppedand looked down with mock modesty
tapping the parquet floor with her little foot. Cavalier
did not move, steadily regarding her.
She glanced up suddenly, permitting her eyes to
meet his full volley.
' ..^*^T" f^^ ^^^ *«*^"' *°*^ »gain paused, pro-
vocative, her face very close to his.
" WeU, if you wiU not. I will,"* she cried, suddenly
throwing her arms about his neck.
And she kissed him with laughing wilfulness.
" It is for the last time— a final reward of merit "
she said, explaining the circumstance. " I do not kiss
married men. And-I have my scruples oven about
engaged ones ! Here comes the Mar^chal ! "
CHAPTER XLI.
The Princess of Butterflies.
It was a strange interview. It could not be said of
nath joined, iit no man put asunder "
Rather a., mpish kinswoman of the Prince of FUes
(the Prmcess of Butterflies, she might have been named^
no ways amiss) had joined them. Yet to the ouS
eye, to the eommon bruit of the eamp and eount^ it
seemed a natural enough aUianoe, and one yZ\^X
to reeommend itself alike to the Powers iKnd
the powers upon the earth.
The late prophet and ex-leader of the fightine Cami
sards had been brought to better and more ordiX'
waysof thinking by the daughter of one of thrir^aS
fcend of fanatics Her father was a most learned man
b™"" rt '^ ""«"'! ">« P-^ ignorant fok
Dy reason of his having come from Geneva, their head
place-where their Bible (aU writ in Fr^nriike a
common chap-book) was made by one Jean C^vin
V„S "'^y, rf moreover, that the young
E^hshwoman had been a long time in the tamUy of
the Mar«chale and that in time she, too, would make
her peace with Holy Church-even as the hSy
; j&i*; --S'!
♦ i =.
-i»:».j
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
401
Marquise had done, who now went regularly to M«««
of the half-envious laughter of^fof^o; ^■"""^ "
JJt' Sli^'""^ "r "PP'"* ""^ ""^'^ *«»«' with an
ivory knitting-needle. " After nil » oV, j ,
knows but he may airain ? <5K« T ii *^**^
Bid him enter ^'' ^ ^^^ "*'*" '"^"'^ ^^^^^r.
^i^o^-r ;S'e^--r :tt'':f^ t-r^
a nl.t »° ' '^^' "■'"'" '■'« ''»d been listemn^ to
a newly-written reply to the mistakes and mis state
meat* contained in Mr. Shield's "LUe" ofMr"
Re mok (the late Mr. James), without. hoLt;
26
402
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
hearing one word of the abundant text, and yet more
abundant commentary.
As the girl entered the room she found herself
suddenly face to face with Jean Cavalier. At the sound
of footsteps Yvette had moved a little back till she
stood in the shadow of a curtain, and from thence she
kept her great dark eyes fixedly upon Cavalier. At
sight of Flower-o'-the-Corn the young man moved
forward almost automatically, though not without a
certain dignity, raised her hand to his lips and kissed
it with quiet and befitting reverence.
Then he began to speak in a slow, even, slightly
strained voice, not at all like his own as Flower-o'-the-
Corn remembered it among the men at La Ca valeric, or
even on the evenings when he used to cone to the
gatehouse to talk to her father, and— the detail returned
to her now with a peculiar thrill— to look shyly over at
herself. That was in the days before the advent of
Maurice Raith, before Yvette Foy, before her world
had been made, and, alas ! unmade. The spider had
not begun to spin in those days— or, at least, the flies
were different and the webs spread in other parlours.
" I have the honour to bog that Mademoiselle will
consider me as a suitor for her hand," he said. " I
have the happiness to believe that my addresses are
not unpleasing to mademoiselle's father, and that, in
time, mademoiselle herself may come to look favourably
upon them. If she will accept of me as her husband, I
promise to do all that any man can to give her' a
happy future."
Behind the curtain Yvette smiled a wicked smile.
And the interpretation thereof was, " Not thus, but
quite otherwise, did he make love to me."
" But, then," she admitted, frankly smiling at the
reminiscence, "perhaps I also made love to him.
FLOWER-O'-THE-COBN. 403
a^t"" %lrT- '"'^-'«'<J-^«'«' does not intoxicate
Yet Frances WeUwood, having no comparisons to
make, and oUy utterly sick at hclrt, fou"d thT yo«n^
man^s words not wUhout a certain native ig^ty^ "^
"vl ^ T" ** '""'• »™P'y and sincerely
you do me too great lionour. According to the
custom of your country. I shaU be satisfiedTyou settk
the drtaJs of-that which i, to be-with my father "
Yvette now came forward slowly and with ,1^^.
meanmg glances, first at one and th'enTt'thrler^
tw r I .'J f'o^Jn'g to the custom of the oountrv
-that I should be your chaperon," she said, lauZg^
but then, my dears, I am an old married wo^n t
th:Tr/°" I -UJ sit in the window witfrUck to
the settle, and look out for my husband w. im
H
401
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
more. For the power of a woman when she is stronc
was upon him. And, though he was about to b1
married to a woman high above Yvette Foy. as
the heavens are high above the earth, yet his
heart went Imgering and longing after her. And help
himself he could not. ^
So they sat and were silent, each of them looking
different ways. tiU Yvette laughed, saying, " You two
wiil have a quiet house of it, by my faith."
At this Cavalier plucked up some heart, or perhaps
the sting of Yvette's scorn pricked him. He came
near and took the hand of Flower-o'-the-Com in his
It lay there soft and moist as a white bloom brought
from the rose-garden in the morning.
But after a whije, as they still sat silent, Yvette
laughed agam. "f see now it is," she said, "my
presence u:keth ycu. I must see to the house. There
is a salad for the Marshal's supper which he wiU refuse
If It be prepared by any hand but mine."
So saying, she made for the door, glancing mischiev-
ously over her shoulder as she went, Tvhereupon both
of the new-made lovers started up simultaneously
" Do not go ! " they said, as with one voice
1 ^V'^^^^I^. J?*^ ^°^^ ^''^^ P^^^ *^*^^ I^^J of laughter,
laughing tiU the tears started from her eyes and ran
down her cheeks.
"You are right," she said; " why waste time now in
foohsh talk and such-like, the commonplaces of sweet-
heartmg? Aft^r to-morrow you wiU have all the rest
of your lives for it."
Then she stretched out her hand towards them with
two fingers extended in a manner highly episcopal
Bless you, my children ! " she said.
^w^n
4 ' -A^iw'^^
^-.**
^sm
iff ■ ' <fc
as
CHAPTER XLII.
Thb Gospel op Loviko.
Tbebb remained for Flowor-n- ti,« n. ^,
the Greater Question Shi K V5 "" *''* P"'" <>'
. permit t^ S SrilRa^^h "T"'"* °' ^^'"o
mocking spirit o^JS'rreirihr^rtre'tM*
asked so simply, but with a very world rf7 *
^pressed in her eyes and the co^m^rion"' 0^:^
a/et:rIr:aton^l-:'^^^^^^^^^^^ 3~ 'l
gave directions that Maurice Ra th ZnU f ' ''"^P^^
watehed. They are common devicrTr«I> ''^
French prisons, and, indeed, are norunknl""""™*
m others belonging to countries equaUy ^^S T".
m houses of detention of a later date tZn I j ' ""''
the eighteenth century. "" ""* <*»™ <>'
Now, Maurice Raith, since the dav wl,.„ u ^ ^
been deprived of the society of pZZ Z "' .
and yet more of the visits^f PatrS „V^''°'^'
daughter, had permitted himseU tf tk"in1oTuth
I
406
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I
a state of melancholy as the mere fear of death would
have been wholly unable to create in him.
He submitted to the military perquisitions and
confrontations with the silent readiness of a good
, soldier. He was weU aware that, tried by such a
tribunal as the secret military one which "had been
constituted, the mere fact of being taken out of
uniform in the centre of the dominions of King Louis,
was enough to ensure his being promptly shot.
He saw no way out, but in itself the thought of
death did not affray him greatly. After aU, one must
die, and there is no quicker or more soldier-like way
out of the inevitable than that prescribed by a drum-
head court-martial and carried into execution by a
well-selected firing .party.
No, it was not ^'lafc which lay heavy on his heart.
Of a certainty no ! What then ?
Well, he did not believe it, of course. He could not.
He would be a hound and unworthy of the love of the
honestest and truest gkl in the world if he believed
one word of the tale. But it was whispered that
Mistress Frances Wellwood was of a certainty marvel-
lously high in favour with the Marshal. His guards
retailed the matter to him with such emendations
as occurred to them. They thought it would interest
him. They knew— no one better— the old soldier's
reputation. Of course, they all agreed, marriage has
a marvellous ^fiFect on some men.
Perhaps— and then, on the other hand, perhaps
not !
Maurice angrily bade them hold their evil tongues,
whereat they shrugged their shoulders, and marvelled
at his lack of taste in gossip. They Hked theks s they
liked their wine, hot and spiced.
But, at all events, a genuine surprise \7as on the
:^jM:--'
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 407
way to Maurice Raith. He was moved to a better
room-that is. from the prisoner's point of view. For
instead of a narrow slit shutting off a slither of sky, like
the paring from a wand cut from a last year's pollard-
willow he had a wide oblong window in a recess-
cross-barred with huge iron bars, it is true, but framing
as m a picture, the glorious vaUey of the Tarn His
Z' .''"'" f^lf ""'^^ '^ «^""* «^^^^^*y' it« tranquil
beauty, and the suggestions of eternity as the river
disentangling itself from among the hills, passed on.'
like the hfe of man, beyond the ken of prisoners who
Disregard it through the barred windows of life
J^e door of the cell opened, and the tall erect figure
of Patrick \\ellwood came in. with his accustomed
graciousness of dignity, the long hair now grown white
as snow, which once had glanced as the raven's wing
and that uncertain orb. brown as tae peat-water afte^
a spate m the Glen of Trool. which, to those who loved
him. added to rather than detracted from the charm
of his appearance.
Maurice Raith rose to greet him. His aspect was
solemn, yet there was a kind of exaltation about him
too, like one who is the messenger of the King to a
subject. Religion, true and undefiled. seemed to
enter every house with him. Sole among all the
men whom Maurice Raith knew, the chaplain had
earned to the confines of old age the simplicity
the ardours, and, equally discernible, the weaknesses
of a chdd. For instance, he liked sweet things, and
habituaUy carried a couple of lumps of sugar in his
waist-pocket. s "i uis
From him Maurice learned that every little child
18 a Christ, and that he who keeps longest that child-
like nature apart from the world, and untouched
by those things that are evil, is likest that young
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
man of Na^th in GdUee, who« name wa. entered
in the eDToUment booln iutn» „,, t„ r> • "nwrea
of Je^ b1;^ r*° *^^'"">. "-der the name
SLtl.^' ""tils'""""- ^^' ^^™ Wat^'td
MMter had withdrawn Himself from His disoinW
pr "™.*:. t:-i; "s?eCor:rwx£:
tefo°her.:^^eteu:ft^Si:s '"i ?r\"
the word waa in if «.i*V i ^*^*""°® ^**t'»- And though
P.triorZembe'S!tL°re''fort-"' *° "." '°'°
ijM^>\
FLOWEn-O'-THE^ORK. «o«
■?h^^ .? ™.oompletmg hi, earthly pilgrimZ
Ilien the mmMter went mechanicaUy to the window
h mS:™ « «!"• '"" •" "■" "S"' °' tke fair riZ;
hanr whL »°7«>n»t of wonder with both l,i«
hands, which came from his Genevan education He
™ ,n no haste to disclose his message. He w« old
th.8 young man about to die was /oung HrwTuiJ
Hff:?L':t:ii^'--:;\t-rcj'ffl
^uThZ r-meTmy^Se ^? ^'^ ' f" ^^^^
too gentle to be left™r kne in the w?^° "^ ""''
this world." wilderness of
He stood a little regarding the vaUev of the T»™
aB It lay m those wondrous glories offset „h!^'
written at length, spelt out the jewe led twelve fo„nl'
Settlor ^^"•'"'™ '° *-^ -terttt-Bti;
as t ^^hThri-- ri^s^-d^r-i^'
indeed, upon the earfh nf fUo* '^""'
one more^ear?, d e^SL „, tT,?""* "'«'?"'''■"'
little child, groL o^rZ not wlLvTho "" It"
grey hairs and charged the rank^Tiho , u ""*
the head of ArdmUlan's regimont "«°*"y "
Maurice did not at first hear «,i,o* i,
but presently there camTto him iTke a brer- '"?"«'
The old man shook back his white locks. " Words of
i|^
T4'«^rTSsi^*^
V.
■ a
'I
r
i
410
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
marvel ! " he said. " none like them. A dweller in
courte a councjUor of I'.ings was this Isaiah-whenc^
had this man this wisdom ? "
"Ah," he went on without thinking of Maurice " I
"For tr-T ";' .'^"" ^ P'°P^^* ^^ -P ""word
For the Lord ,s our Judge. The Lord is our Law-
giver, the Lord is our Kmg. He wUl save us » ' "
wifh «*"T^ f '?"^ ^ ^^^ y°""S °^*"' who stood
with a certain look of awe on his face. Maurice Raith
was as other men of his profession and nation. He
took as httle as he could of the stem theology whkh
was dominant at the time. But the life beyond life
which was so real in this minister, held and vet
daunted him. A godly man is always great-even
to he most complete of Laodiceans. Doubt not that
GaUio was. m his heart of hearts, immensely impressed
for that when his Greeks of Achaia drc.v the broad
hemmed skirts of Sosthenes. chief ruler of the synagogue
about his ears, and with rebounding thwacks beftS
joyously before the judgment-seat
" Maurice." said Patrick Wellwood. his voice sinking
to a gentle murmur so low that even the eager watchef
at the spy-hole could not catch it, " you see all that ? "
(He pointed as he spoke to the dying gold and purple
and blue which decked as with a garment the dying
"Have you ever seen the King in His beauty ? "
ftTr off""^ ^°'' ^'^^^^ *^^ ^^^^ *^^* ^ W
Maurice Raith blushed, as if the reflections of the
tmted hiUs were colouring his face.
"Sir," he said remorsefuUy. "I am a soldier. I
do not know. I fear I have not thought so much of
these thmgs as I ought. But I was taught to say a
■v!iiyr:w^'<jm--:^.^.m-
1
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 411
prayer when I was a little lad and-and at least-I
nave not forgotten that ! "
The old Christian gentleman nodded his head slowly,
and his amile became of almost incredible sweetness
and wistfulness.
"It is well, boy," he said; "see~it grows dusk
?rr I T"^ "''^'' *"*" ^°'* '^ J»«^*- I* darkens-
that shadow yonder-see how it creeps up and up '
Only the tops of the mountains are red and glorious.'
Maurice Raith, your life is like that. Lad of my heart
^. ^ °^ui^'/^°^* ^^^'y " °°* ^^^ ^^' off from
you this mght !
And he turned his eyes away. They were not full
of tears, but rather held in them a rich and tender
glow caught from the last threads of the sunset. He
put his hands on the young man's shoulders. Then he
slid one arm about his neck.
T ^"^""^^^^^^ *^^ ^^^^'' *^« staff officer of my
Lord Marlborough, felt himself turning into a child
agam. It was in his eyes that the tears stood— not
by any means those of fear, but to think that a man so
greatand holy should be so tender to such as he
Then I am to die, sir ? " he said.
The old minister paused before he answered. He
seemed m that moment to pass from the Old Testa-
ment to the New.
"Let not your heart be troubled." he said very
gently, divining the thought of Maurice Raith's inmost
soul. He who said * Fear not, little flock ! ' will
raise up an arm for our little one to lean on when this
old sapless faggot shall faU to the ground "
For Patrick WeUwood. knowing nothing of spidera.
tbeu- webs, their spy-places, and casual spinnings
moved simply and largely among such.-tliinking the
best and doing the best, even as from Galilee to Judaa
^
«
H
■M
i
412
FLOWER-O'-T .CORN.
he wZf '.t"»'I:''- """"« ■»•» '»'«» h" daughter
God-with. in addition fK u " ""^ *"«^* '^^
Ho stopped for want of fittinK words R» K.j .
the minister's gift— the „Ui „f .if . ' * ""^ not
the great Book of Styt " Ah if Z 1 T** """''' '"
others, thev would t.d Z B^okTr ^thaTIi """^
::rcr:x:rr rotr - ■• '^'--":
a.- p.o«t,ess. ^caZ/rft:fsi/;tr::::^-
but y"' I k^o;"": »'"'|'-' ".'' " wo„ thought on-
womL of whonTyou speak aT^lvf"'' ""' "■"'"""
might be in her ne^ a Ruth IT """'' ■""• ^''<'«
though you are Tion,^T.ttuZ:T. 'r ^"*'
that sometim he hJ.? ^^ "' ''"' '"'"' y°u,
being too ool.,„XXrthr Tir^- '" '*"'' "'
set on different keys Sdtt u ?'°" '°"8« ««>
which makes evenY^'Jun "f"" '' ^''^ *«''"^
He thought aTtlTwhilewr*''' ?' "' ""^ ' "
and the Ln .."1 • u. "« °"' «' t*"* t^Uight
againsttg'l^enX"'' "' ''" -"""-A^
I :^': mtrmo::;itt h':r^ "t*- "^t^^-
enough Which wouidrhr™'',''::*^^!^-''-''"'
Maurl"eSh'elrr..r ""Vr ''^'" """^^ '"
eagerly, my aunt has her own dowry,
rmi - -.'--v** -\ <ff«>ijw--i ^fii^"'-- .*.'-••>- -•apt''----.*-
FLO\VER.O'.THE-CORN. 413
.1?*^ •'ItTK*""' ?" '^^ "- "' ^""o «•'«' till
.ne die.. Let it be my happine™ to leave aU I noMeM
K I a* of Xr"' """• " ^ "'" """y ■»"•
He Mt down and wrote the simplest of wiUs leaving
VVellwood so e daughter of Patriek Wellwood "a"
chaplam m ArdmiUan's regiment. My Lo^Mari-
borough was to execute the will, the titles and vXt
hcmg presently in his hands.
" He has the repute of being one who craan, «t
money ' said Maurice, looking u'p. '' but I. fKa^
the best reason to know, think liim. in all private
affairs, a man of strict honour." ^
It was with some difficulty that the chaplain was
induced to put the simple holograph into hfs ^ket
shakmg his head meantime and sighing ^ '
'It misdoubts me sore." he said, "that this is a
distrustmg of God's providence."
Maurice saw his opportunity.
"Yes," he said, "it may be so when there is only
°^*f««e« concerned, but what does your Scripture
Z ficfofor ^ ? "> ^' ' ""'-' -'-'' ^°' ^-^« ^etld
wiSf: t^pT fitn':r'°" °^ '" ^-'^^ ^^-^^ *° ^--
The minister's face changed suddenly. It was as if
a amb of the flock had suddenly rebuke"^ the shepherd
Almost mechanically he gave the answer. ^
Woe unto him through whom the offence cometh
It were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged
i
II 1
i
414
FLO WER.O*-THE CORN.
about his neck, and he were cast into the sea, than that
he should offend one of these little ones ! ' "
Patrick Wellwood thought a while, his eyes misty
with the tears that now welled up for the first time
" Habel ! " he said.
It was the old fencing phrase when an adversary's
thrust got home, remembered from the time when he
was an adept in that exercise. He turned to Maurice
Raith with a new feeling in his heart towards him—
respect being now superadded to the former tenderness.
"You have done that which the young rich man
would not do," he said, "you have given freely aU
that of which you are possessed. Verily, saith the
Lord, you are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven ! "
Maurice Raith smiled sadly, shaking his head with
the strange lucidity of those to whose lives a pfcxiod
is put.
" Ah," he said, " I have only given it, being about
to die, to the woman I loved, that she might not
utterly forget me. For the sake of human love alone
I have done this thing ! "
" Of that," said the mmister, " I take it not on my-
self to judge. I leave God (who is Love) to redd up
the matter. Methinks He wiU not be backward to
say, 'To hhn who loved much, much also shall be
forgiven ! ' "
m''^9.g^^'^: 'r^fj'wy^:
CHAPTER XLIII.
Eve and Liuth.
Tm door of the ceU opened noiselessly and Flower-
o-the^orn stood regarding her father Ld her lover
The old man was bestowing upon the younger iTS
solemnity the same Aaronio benediction T4h in
superfluity ot naughtiness Yvette had pron^^o^
mockmgty over Cavalier and herself, as a S S
repeat the creed backwards. ** '
At tie spy-hole above the eye of the silent watcher
became more fi«d and-Joubt not-the smuTmore
contemptuous. For the red pulsating heart of the
mystery was now to be opened in seotton, and Yvette
Wmg schemed so much and lied so ofte.^, would hive
felt that she had spent herself in vain, had she not S
For that was not true which she had said to Jean
Cavaher, that Patrick WeUwood knew and approvS
of^marr^ge. Jhe two men who stood the™ W
m hand were ready for death, come when it migTt
They would have shared it between them simply Se
a draught of water. But this delicate woman, wlildns
She was indeed to take away the bitterness of death
::^4/U''iAsu'<^.
416
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
from Maurice Raith, but how ? Bj putting something
m Its place whfch would be a thousandfold more bitter
Now m the great things of life (which, be it known to
aU, are not battle, murder, and sudden death, but
hope deferred, love rejected, faith broken, the dread
common ill of ohUd-bearmg, the yet more common
awful 111 of children who bring down grey hairs in
sorrow to the grave), women are a thousandfold more
brave than men. When the stones of life's sanctuarv
the precious stones which make the temple of our
happmess, are poured out in the top of every street
who sit with their heads beween their knees ? We
mm. And who are they that, with bared arm and
the set face of workmen needing not to be
ashamed, labour to build up again the Temple
despoiled, the Holy of Holies profaned, the
hearthstone made desecrate ? The women whom God
hath given m I Bow the head, spread abroad the
hands, cast dust ! They are greater than wo, and it is
meet and good that we should be ashamed before them
So in That Day, according to the Word, shall many
an unbelieving husband be sanctified by the faith of
the wife— saved by it, even from his own weakness and
from his own sin. And to this, not the fool or the
weakling, but the strong men and the good men shall
say, " Amen." And for this also shaU these women
be arrayed in the robes of fine linen clean and white
which is the righteousness of the saints. Come up
higher, Frances WeUwood ! Though vou come to
your lover's prison having upon you the scarlet robe of
Delilah, the woman who hath pleased many, yet about
you IS the whiteness of that City, which one sometimes
sees m a dream of the night-faint, far, and impossible
to be reached, beyond the confines of the Lands of
Sleep ; or, more rarely, perhaps, but also more vividly
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
417
pregnant with E^y t^^^r? "'"^°'*'"' *'™-
the other to eCt *^' ' "r""!*' '*°'' '"P'onng
before them did not W?^ *'"'"«'" «"' "■« ««
And she came forward smilinjr • «o th»t i, ■ ,.
men, they were deceived anrf^vi «> that, beuig but
glitter of tears in her tes fitf T "" ""' """"■
espial-nicheinthewaUsTw For^J ''°°'"' ** ""«
according to her c^^tfo:.' ^' ** ^^ « "o-", and.
she. For when thf eternal dT^V*" "^^ ">»-
and the ledgers oCZ"^4'l^%^ ^^^ "P.
loving, the utterly true shaU he L!, .^ * °^'y-
whom were Franci and Patrick VeUwc?."' T^' u "'^
two bade fair to draw after nil™ ■ * .T ' ^^ these
of simplitciy one Ma^t^^'*r .*^" ^""" '"«i°"'
adventurer^and fo W ofa el *""' " ^^t-heart
singleness Of heartwI^btS^inttr-'^^y-d
Ifaurice sprang up and came towarSI Rower o' th
Com, hM arms outopread. She held back a «». f
hun, with a gesture which he t^iT. \ "° ^"n
presence of hfr father bufwUc^t fT*^ » *«
knew to be the thought 4r^„l"°''"" "P »'«'^«
news to her lover-alt .L^ "he must break the
affianced of anoC "°°^ '""°" tim the
Nevertheless, because the heart was nM „ . .
enough within her, and also bZntT u "f "''°"8
consciencewith the tholSHhaTthT^i '"™'* ■"«
she put up her lips toTk^ L JT" "" »'" y^'-
been at meeting aSd partfaT^ *^"' ''°»'°°' '»<'
"^.ii^^^^if*':*^^'^'-
410
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
(C
"For this time I wiU leave you, my son," said Patrick.
I think there is nothing more to be said. The God of
Jacob bless you now."
" And afterwardar he added, beneath his breath, as
he turned and went out.
Up at the watcher's coign of vantage the dark
subtle eyes glittered. Never had the Spider, sitting
m the darkness, assisted at a scene which interested
her so much as this. Better than either of them, she
knew what was coming. Like some baleful beautiful
divmity, she sat there with the cords of destiny which
she herself had spun in her hand, tiU the moment when
she would break them oflf short, or cpitefuUy ravel
them into a hopeless tangle.
As the minister went out the guardian of Maurice's
prison, who had been warned to care weU for his com-
fort, entered. He set on the little table along with
the inkstand, the goosequills, and the sheets of paper
the two great candelabra, which Monsieur Bechet
only supplied to his best-paying patients. Then he
went and brought in from some store-place an armful
of faggots, part of which he put on the andirons, pulled
down the massive griUe to make them bum better
and with the well-trained accuracy and silence of a
domestic servant betook himself out.
Maurice Raith and Flower-o'-the-Com were left
alone. Alone, that is, save for a pair of interested
eyes, great and dark, which watched them narrowly
from among the rafters. Verily the wise man spoke
truth when he said that the spider taketh hold with
her hands and is in King's palaces.
Each of these young people thought that the'one held
a great secret close shut up from the other. Maurice
imagined that Flower-o'-the-Com did not know that
he was to dio Francos, on the other hand, thought
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN. 419
that she alone knew that he wag to live. In the>e
c^umstances it is hard to talk of indifferent tWn^
M^v or^.^i"*™ ?P^° *^« inexhaustible wi
aSalr^^ -worthiness, or Gaudeamus of happy
So instead they sat hand in hand on the seat by the
Zf^'Vfv: ^« "gJ^^'^g o^ the candles had 7mo.I
shut out the prospect. But still there lingered a f^Lt
splashed broadly behind the Gausses
.^1^°°^^''" f^^^^^Jower-o'-the-Com, softly pointing
ditw!^ '^'' ^^'^'^'^^ '^' '^^'' throneof Ca^ssiopelf
guttered, up yonder is where we first loved each the
f^^if ^ * "T""* ^* "^"'^ ^^^ ^^^ *h*t «he was cruel
to call up such memories, considering what she had
come to teU But Maurice had his a^wTr ready
f.r Z"":^ T" ^f ^""^^ ^""^^"^^y' " °ot the/e. but
fo^ to the northward, under the paws of the bear I
cornfield, when the very cornflowers were not half
so blue as your eyes."
He sighed, thinking that he must tell her now
^d she sighed, thinking that now she must teu'him
While above them, at her place of espionage. Yvette
smiled a yet more bitter smile ^
***♦♦♦
Frl^^^K**" ''T^ **.^*' ^""^ ^* ^^'"^ ^ *^« wise. Had '
Frances been the spmner of webs, who plotted her plots.
bv n?r'1.^,T. °",^ *° '^' ^''^'' ^*^° J»id her line
by rule and told her lies by measure, every word would
have been studied beforehand, each effect calculated
each touch employed with the skiU of an artist in •
emotions.
But it was not so with Frances Wellwood.
f
420
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
- 1
i
I
All suddenly she feU down before Maurice, laid her
f'ead upon his knees, and burst into tears
1 am not sure, after all, that Yvette could have done
better Indeed, that lady who, among her few virtues,
retamed a certein feeling for fair play and could appre-
ciate a well-played scene, clapped the points of her
fingers daint Jy together in token of sUent applause
The gods were satisfied, or, at least, the expert critic
who occupied their gallery.
" Frances. Frances, what is it ? " cried Maurice, in
quick surprise ; "have they told you ? Do you know ? »
Ihe gu-l s sobs alone answered him.
^^ " Dearest I do not care." he cried, losing aU dignity
for myself it matters nothing, so long as vou are
well cared for ! In time you will be happC I-T
have been talking it over with your father ' "
Frances sat up suddenly, and gazed at him in amaze-
ment the tears still running freely down her cheeks
^^ Not matter ? » she gasped, utterly taken aback
if-if-I am well taken care of. You have been
talking It over with my father ? "
" My dearest." he said. " believe me, a soldier has
often to face as much. I have stood a dozen times
where now I stand. I am a man, remember. What
does anything matter to me. a soldier, so long as you
are safe and happy. And, after aU, you wiU be weU
cared for, and, though all wiU not be for us as wo had
expected-yet, you know, dearest, things seldom
turn out as one hopes ■" ^^
Flower-o'-the-Com rose to her feet and stood back
\IT!^T J^\T^ ^'^'^^^-^ ^^^^ *^»^ "matter but
bttle to heart. If he were willing so easily to resign her
to another- Could it be-that which Yvette had so
strenuously instilled into her-that aU men were alike
In this thmg ? That their love was only for a little-
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
421
bwn the same if an officer of the Mar&,hale de Mon
popuIation^rarofSnd'' Ye':'"' ?*"*
rpl^.^,^rf,^LL^^'''^^^^^^^^
^fraT^rtrre^^^^i-^^^^^^
lack of comprehemion. doubt, fear, and lastlv fl^
moat absolute terror, aa she realised th^t'shrLad let
ItLT* *° ""■. "" °'^y ■'"- 'hat he musf d?e
not that he was condemned to live without l,.r p.
owned to herself that if the ehol^td ttn Jee! «V™
.t k':,'** """''' l"™ oho-en to die ^th hte, "^C
Ae had passed her word, made her choS> to^ve hto
It w^for h.s «J.e, and she must go through 2b U
Frances, dearest, be brave ' " he ««>H ■.„• •
g"4''»t''^^. t''''r\''''^^ '"- »"e -
tbfar^Lta^S.Tili'-traman^^;;^-^:
upon the woman he loves. You will n^t foa T« t
know, best-beloved • " ^«»i win not fail me, I
I'
III
_ » T . •Sk." _"
-«3B15,|!*^;,-
423
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
n
" No." she said ; « no, as God sees me, I will not
fail you. You .^hall not die. Ihave sworn it. I will
give my life for yours. It is accepted-this my sacri-
face. The Kmg has given his sanction. You do not
understand ! And-and-^h. I do not know how I
am to tell you ! "
And up in the right-hand comer, behind the dusky
beams m her hidden place of espial. Yvette rejoiced.
She felt repaid for aU her difficulties overcome, all her
webs spun and broken, all her failures and all her mis-
takes These two whom she hated were drinking
together a full cup. vinegar and gall mingled with
the waters of a Marah thrice embittered
** What is it, beloved ?" said Maurice; "you speak
Of savmg me, of giving your life for mine. Of that I
knowiiothing I am to die! It is the daily chance
of a soldier-hard, certainly for me, who have so re-
cently found you, but otherwise— weU »
"Oh! you do not understand, you will not—"
cned poor Flower-o'-the-Com, sobbing her heart out
on his breast, the price fe that I am to marry Jean
Cavaher. They have made me promise-I am to do
Lt'^''^ r"' "^nr*^"* '^^^ *■"- y°" "« «*f« over the
frontier, and on an English ship. Only I am to remain
m theur hands as a hostage ! "
Maurice stood suddenly erect, and clenching his fist
h-?r*.', *^« "'^^wering haavens, which, indeed
had httle enough to do with the matter
Jlfi^ ^ «;oman/" he cried, fiercely. Then he
added m a lower tone, « It serves me right • "
" What woman ? " asked Flower-o'-the-Com. for a
moment stoppmg her sobs to look up in his face her
agony mixed with wonder. '
Bibhcal-while at her spy-hole, Yvette, who had a
iilj
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN,
he
423
ready if somewhat perverted sense of humour was
Z^^:^u'^/'^\^'' handkerchief into her mout"
and bite hard to keep down her laughter) -" that
t«>man/» he repeated again, finding no satisfaoto^
parap^ase. " She has laid a trap for aU our fee W^
?oW^" '^ ^^'r ""''' ^ «-- - *^« -ere. that
follow the decoy to their own destruction."
He struck his hand hard against his head,
fool 1 " '^ ^'^^' ^"^""^ ^*^*^' ^^^* ^° "tte'
fol^'^Tf «™ !!!^°*i ^ f^^ contemplation of his own
r^nLifT "^^"^^ ''J^^^ ""^i^*' »°d its adequate
i^resentotion even to himseH might have taken some
But Frances interrupted him.
" You are wrong, Maurice," she saiS, quietly. " if
IZ r^ ^^"'t' ^^' ^^ ^"^'^ kind-more than kind.
ua^on ^"^ ""if k' ^^^^^^^ °' °^*^^^°« ^ conditional
pardon. You wiU be sent under escort of the Marshal's
^'m VT n*"^ iT^^' ^^ SP^^- Your servant
Billy Marshall and his wife Bet wiU go with you. and
Zhl^^ ^°'' are safe on an English ship at Barcelona
(where there are plenty), one of these two will bring
Ten ?wm7'^'*^**y°"""^"^^- Then, and o^;
tlien. I will fulfil my promise ! "
She smiled up at him through her thickening tears.
Do not be afraid for me," she said, "he will be
kmdtome He is a good man ! I do nit wish you to
be grieved ! That hurts ! " j' vu
And then, stm smiling, her strength, wonderful up
to thm pomt. failed her for the first time, and she
famted qmetly away in his arms.
li
<l
»■'
il!
<(
CHAPTER XLIV. /
Kiss Me, My Husband."
Pkbhaps it was that the Spider had had enough of
watching the game which she herself plavod so match-
lossly weU. Barring one or two point^ at the first
she could not but feel that Flower-o'-the-Com had
done no justice to her part. Yvette could have brought
Maunce to the agpny with so much more skill, and as
to the fainting— it is really too antiquated— the
resource of the ill-trained amateur. Bah! she would
go down and play the scene out herself.
So without more thought than the mere resolution,
Yvette drew her capuchin over her head, a.ssumed ^as
easily as she had donned the hood) an air of anxiety
and haste, and descended into the chamber of Maurice
Raith's imprisonment.
The faithful Monsieur Bechet was "lingering at the
far end of the corridor, his hands in his pockets, think-
ing doubtless his own thoughts. He was, nevertheless
keeping a sharp eye upon aU exits and entrances-^
though purely, of course, from a professional point of
view. Really he was only interested in a little cup-
board in which, along with ropes, halters, and thumb-
screws, he kept sundry curious waters for the solace of
his lonely hours of waiting upon the pleasure of others.
He had made more than one visit there already and
the key, a delicate little steel engine of much mechanical
i^iy^-'^s^
■ .^.f^'^^'Z
FLOWEB-0'-THi!.CORN. 425
Heard the light footsteps of Madame h> Marfchale d.
1?^m%"*k"/""" ".r chamber of .^t:!^' *"
Aow M. Bcchet wa« much too well bred and too
ttioroughly in .ubordination to hi, aupenor offlc«^
(and their .upenor wive.) to a.k any questions a> to
the ™coeM of her projeota. He wa, th^re to l"k and
unlock door,, and to await the lady', pfeLure ^o
« h?rL!f J"?" "'"''•ioned door,, till .uch time
«» he received due receipt and diwhar^e for their
bodie,, dead or alive-that waa aU Honour Bechet
" « 800d pmrdian of the King', peace, car^for '
Accordingly he admitted Yvotte with a simple bow
and »,,le into the chamber, which aince Ma,rt»
.t^i.A^^ V™"'' *""■ " "he de«;ended. What
she had done other, might do also-an officer of pZ
was only a policeman after all. '^
"Stay here." she said ; " I ,haU not be lone •
And perhaps I may have occasion to ret,™ «,^„
intend to furnish a free exhibition to any other-save
tekeTh^r '^ '"° '°' """^ '^-^fi' she'wrrbouTto
take the leadmg part in an unrehearsed drama
She entered to find Maurice and Flower-o'-the-Corn
with their positions unchanged
w^m' ! " '^"'''' ""' '""' *° »" ■»« ' that
shf'^idX!' "° ?°"'"L '•'«» this lady meant what
^ and /■"""■-o -'ho-Com was still in Maurice's
»™8, and he was mourning over her, kissing her pale
face passionately the whUe. a method of recovery
426
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
ft
\k
from temporary Bynoope which, though indubiUbly
ancient, is not in accordance with modem medical
treatment, nor recommended by the faculty.
At the entrance of Yvette Bfaurice Raith turned
upon her, hot with wrath and fury, holding Frances
still closer in his arms and looking as if he would have
rent the intruder limb from limb.
Yvette stood smiling in the doorway.
"What is the matter with my friend," she said,
•' with the dear Mademoiselle Wellwood ? "
She pronounced the surname in the French manner
with the prettiest labial lisp, with which at another
time Maurice would have been delighted.
But this pretension of innocence on Yvette's part
was much too plain. That he was threatening, as it
were, his own communications, even cutting off his
path of retreat, was of no weight in comparison with
the need which Maurice felt of expressing himself com-
pletely to the traitrcM Yvette, whose cunning schemim?
had b-ought them to this.
" What is the matter with her ? " he cried, indig-
nantly. ♦' That ia not for you to ask. No— stand off
—do not touch her ! She is too pure for such hands
as yours. Do not even look at her ! Do not breathe
upon her. I would rather see her dead than aided bv
you ! " ^
He fairly hissed the words in his wrath.
Yvette affected a kind of humorous terror.
•Please, Monsieur the Englishman, do not kill
me with your glances! Ah, I remember the time, not
so long ago, either, when I knew a young English
soldier who looked quite otherwise at poor Yvette Foy !
But at any rate, if I am not worthy to touch her]
would it not be better if you yourself laid her down on
a bench, or on the couch yonder, and poured a little
vSi ~ ■'>i
PLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
427
in tLe nam. of co^JZZTZ ZYh^ ^,"^'*^'
who know, no hettlr tiT.. *^ .**""'•"<'• °>»''
«t . Zflo" , " """ " f ''"• "«>" • puppet doU
C".dff • """"•«" '° '<" ".r worf. .ink u..
Weliwood. cl^TJJt:l^:^t:! MademoiseU.
-hould be «nt for to reoov^W " ^"* " """y-
actuaUy been oonaciott, for . 1„„^, ^ ^u"* *""*''
wuhout^^^ui^ '" «-i- K i>"r.L.'r;
C^-Iier «oweVth'^„tt;^t ST/ '"»
of the ««e fi"t^tt:t',tofi:::^f r""^*
rather that anyone should feel L t ""^"^
«.rd"Xt:j:;:KF-«^^^^^^
exercised bv ^u2 ^^*'''*"'^'*y' **»e power of fascination
ii
.-^■^
428
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
repnlsion may both be seen at work, and not infre-
quently upon the same individual.
Maurice would have laid Flower-o'-the-Corn down
on his couch, but at the sound of the name of Jean
Cavalier she put the young man to the side with a
movement of her hand and fronted Yvette.
" r have told him ! " she said.
" WeU, and what does he say ? " smUed Madame
la Mar^chale. " Glad to escape death on such easy
terms, I warrant him ! A soldier is a soldier aU
the world over ! "
It was hardly playing the game, Yvette knew that
very well, but the sight of Frances Wcllwood in the
arms of Maurice and— (the suspicion is that of Yvette
alone)— unwilling to quit them, had aroused in her
all the baser angers of her nature. She could not help
taunting these two who were in her power. It was
foolish, she knew, and killed the mouse instead of
keeping it to play with comfortably for an hour or
two, but all the same, she could not help it.
" You think," she said, contemptuously, to Maurice
Baith, " that it is for the sake of your beaux yeuar, my
friend, that I have brought this thing to pass. Not
at all ! I am married to a man who is worth a dozen
of you any day. If in anything I have over-stepped
the bounds allotted to the wives of Monsieur the
butcher and Monsieur the baker and Monsieur the
candlestick-maker— it has been in my husband's service.
And no man can say I have at any time been other than
his true wife and faithful servant. I will call him up if
you choose, and you can make your plaint to him, an it
liketh you. Think not that I am afraid of you ! "
" But as for you, sir, it is not for the sake of your
life alone (which, as you are well aware, was forfeit
tt^ soon as you set foot across the French frontier —
rW^
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
429
I h.ve dfaarra^ „Zf ' .,^" Bp-Wo. 'hat
would 8«™ this ll f„"^t.l. ^ ^"i '*"*"« I
hi. tho^hto (i^h " T"*?* *° '"» '■8''ta and
bloody and de«>I.tog'T« ™i . '^™°°'« '"■» »
firebrands and fanatic! wo^d ut ZIZ"^^ """^^
them. For the«> rea«,na I^::iZ^'^'lT^
done ! There, are you answered ? " ^ '"""'
^a„'. w"^f -'""^ Flowe.K,'.the Cora
Frances WeUwood, I bid you come with m. ..
Or do you sS^ rhe^TcirlT'l^r T r '
tion to-morrow morning anrf . f • "^"'''"g detona-
observe tbe ag^'Er^ 'o^TC m^^ 'h™"*
earned past to the Protestant cemelerSiC ^h *
by grace of a paternal Government itJZv^T' ''*''
to have him buried - WhrSryo^ Toll ^'"'^
Maurice gripped his finger-nails into hi^ ■
only the knowHs* that a »n ,"t V "f "'' ""*
bring up the soX of tSe^Mar^^"-^;:'^'?!'""'''
sprmgmg upon the tormentor i^^. .5^ '"'°
white throat once and for ^toa^poS "' '^
" ^"^'•" •'"' ««. »"»;«« at him through a mi.t
430
FLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
lit
of tears, "do your part— yours is easy and soon done.
Mine will be the longer in the doing, but I will do it !
She~(France8 pointed with open contempt to where
Yvette stood smil ng her ironic smile)— she speaks part
of the truth. I do this for your sake, because I love
you. How much, only a true maid can know— not a
woman like her ! '*
(Here Flow(3r-o*-the-Com caught herself up from
hasty speech with a rapid mtake of breath.)
" No, I do not mean that! Who am I that I should
judge another ? "
She went on without giving him time to answer.
" Good-bye, beloved ! I shall not see you again.
You will go far away, but you will not forget me !
No, not ever. Nor shall I forget, though I am
wedded to another, though I lie by his side night by
night, and every night tiU the day, the marveUously
glad day when I am taken. And God, ^^ho orders all
things, who has ordered this (or else granted power, for
a time, to some devil of hell to work his will), knoweth
better than any that we can never forget. He
will not be angiy that I think of you, that I continue
to love you. For in soul and spirit I shall be your wife,
and keep all that is eternal of me, all that is immortal^
all that does not go back to the worm and ♦.he sod]
virgin for you— yes, for you alone, my love and mv
life ! * ^
As she spoke she chisped him about the neck with
both hands, oblivious even of the presence of Yvette
and of her smile, which, indeed, had become somewhat
less pronounced and ironical.
Flower-o'-the-Com looked up at Maurice, and her
eyes were deep wells of love and faith.
" Kiss me— my husband ! " she said.
i^"
^tij^Xi
CHAPTER XLV.
Good Catbolios,
^t^T^jV^t^^^'f^ '"""^ ^y *^« Tarn side were the
stir and bustle of preparation. To the left lay the
royal regimente mostly foot grenadiers of the Red
Hou^ of the Kmg. They occupied the narrow neck
»L f/"?^^ '"^"'^ '^ *^^ "P *°^»'ds the Dourbie,
and the dangerous neighbourhood of the Hill Folk
presently in arms against his Majesty
u^ ^^"^ "«*"*/ °" *^® ^^^"^ «*™tJ«. were the local
lev^-men who. but for their uniform and the fear
of the rope and cross-trees of the Provost Marshal of
the camp, might just as well have been enroUed as
franctuwurs, or even Cadets of the Cross
Between th^ encampments, and apart from both
were the recently recruited, and still far from dependable
htuaht ".?!.•'''' °'°'* pronounced. And when a
a wlT w^^ '^'»'*°* ^^ **^« ^y^ House met
a private of the new corps with the gloss yet on his
buttons, he ceased for a moment tw^ting his mo^
teohios, and inquired what was the i^hty pother
in the encampment of the Psahn-singers , ** -^ ^ ^^
conwnt after a score of others had been tried and
Bundiy mountaineers had shown their metal ir;irio
combat with their insultera on several occasio^. m
II
432
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
m
usual amount of " hazing " common to aU new troopB
coming late mto a weU-established army had. of course,
been their fate. But a tendency to settle aU scores on
the spot, generally with a long buteher's killing knife,
had proved a strong discouragement to the rougher
forms of wit, and in no way detracted, in the lomr
run, from the popularity of the Psahn-singers
Our commander is to bo married to-day, and by
the Kmg s own orders!" quoth the man mterrogated
•V^JU^h ™ *^"^ *^** "° ^"^tJ^er insult was
intended adding immediately, "And tothe best, themost
beautiful and most accomplished girl in the world "
J'^^l '\^'^ ^^ °^ *^® ^»i«on Rouge, "the Ladv
Mar6chale for my money ! I love none of your pale
washed-out beauties." ^
" Mademoiselle is the daughter of a great man and
a learned ! " boasted the Camisard
"A Genevan preacher ! " said the other, snecringly.
The long Camisard knifo was in the disputant's hand
in a moment.
♦; I will fight you for it," he said, promptly " I
mamtam that the girl is a good girl, and that her father
18 a great man ! Will you come with me down behind
the willows by the island ? "
humoliy^* °' *'^ '^'^^^'^ ^°"«^ "^^^-^ «<xxi-
" Praise to the saints, I was not made so hot in
the head as you sheep-skin covered Psahn-eingers »
ne said ; have it your own way and let me go mine
I have other fish to fry than to fight for no cau^e at all'
I daresay that the girl is aU that you say. Or at least'
your commander thinks so now. which is as good " '
In the great tent in the hoUow the ceremony was
to be performed. Afterwards, to please the Kimr
they were to repair to the church along with the cwS'
■m>
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
433
doyen of MiUau. and the civil authorities of th. w u
da™ "^^ ^^*' "" "P "«' 0™' tke frontier ,U g«^
camp ^'^' ***® °^^8 went in the
looked upon th Je oS „f *u °"* "''*° *«
gipsy had not ycT'out fn !^ ""^"^^ ''"■ ^»
hoWiman b«iri^' ^rf ' ". ^ "PP*"*"™- b"' « swift
passed him^The wT't? h*° "' f""^' ■««•
expected. She Wt Uh^t l™ amval wm hourly
mation of her ^X^.^^^' «» — •
Yvt^ trSd'^roranf r"-'*'"'" "^ --«'•
coming of BiUy Ch J^ ^1^° "ll'f 'Z.^'
drew near Nn hr.vi« *^^ ^'^^ weddjng
at that time, S^Tt^wth tt Th/" "°"'"f '"'""
She had even obtain^ ™ref™,>^5 *'? ^'"°"^^-
the idea that all thTcombi^I^ T " '^'»°'*' ■««»
spoUed hv the ,on !^^T f ■" "' «""'•" "^l" "»
. y tne non-arnval of « mere gipey with a letter
:'^'!ww^:t^wp
.£ -"*
#
434
rLOWER-0*-THE-CORN.
sufficed to make her unwontedly fretful and difficult to
please.
The Marshal himself had early been obliged to
abandon his military pavilion for the occasion, and to
retire to the bosom of his oldest friend and brother
officer, who shrugged his shoulders in S3nmpathy with
hi? superior's woe i — being also a married man with a
wife considerably younger than himself.
" The whole place is given up to marrying and giving
in marriage," grumbled Nicholas de Baume. "I
declare there is not so much space as would suffice to
set down the breadth of a well-made man upon, with-
out encountering such quantities of needles and pins
as would make him when he arose little better than an
exceedingly fretful porcupine."
Honest Colonel Verlat shook his head with compre-
hending melancholy, and told the tale of his sufferings
upon one occasion when his wife had entered into the
mysteries of lace-making on her own account.
" And the worst of all," broke in the Marshal, who
was paying but small attention, "is the whimsy that
this spoilt child of the pastor of Geneva hath taken
into her head "
Colonel Verlat looked up with a quickly stifled growl.
Ht knew a quick way with dissenters, and if he had his
will he would not have made so great a function of the
manying of their brats. But he also knew better
than to say as much to Nicholas de Baume.
The general went his mournful way.
" The lady will not marry at all, if you please, till
the writing of the young officer is put into her hand,
declaring that he is safe on the English ship. Well,
that much was bargained for. But for the other con'
dition she hath sprang on us— it hath been the mischief
and all. She will have herself married by her father
Pr.OWER-0'.THE-CORN.
435
;;rr«"^ --"-ot^i rt^r--
blessed if I had mv w«v t! . \. ™ ''^"^ «<> «»-
the holy W,^ Dame" SSliS?..'^ " «■" »"" »'
compj:S™.s1:ig^r'^fSy '^ .^-l*" •' "^
if a heretic pX be her^?r°"*»' •"> '"''• "«'™''
h.veyouandI,i?ancoJ toH""".*^ ■' "'*' ■"• '•"'
What in our K'of^ ; ^"^ ""• P««*n'«ter,
a quiet Sr^Z^gl^'lZZ T'J" '?" "">" «^
comp«,io„, not J^iS ^d r. ''~' * ^"^y
a good and amenable Zn'.^ u """^ "» '»»» in
clock strilce 7rttTL:'r^''- «» /""^y
feUows like Francois Verlat .n^ «?^'. ""'" *» "W
of the jade VortZjul Pol^"' ** ^""^ "^
Calvin, Rome and Geneva IvSS! °°2*°' •°<' J"""
frothy feUow BomuTZI^^'^''™ ^^^ "«* «»'
oat. meawling oTtte t^, T ""? *«*"'«« like
cir^-'^-^et.^if^.-^d th.
B^S^.'^Xr ^e^ X^ 'TUT ^^^"
the Abbot-s grap« " '^""* '<»• ""W
church to show his uSor!!ff" '^^ and h. g«» to
he ogles the girls S™ 1^'""' ""* P'""" •«
But for mc^weU m.vL *" y°" '"^^ yo»«-
«^weli, maybe yon are right. I never had
436
FLOWER.O*-THE-0ORN.
much. My favourite toasts went as little to church
as they could help, which indeed suited Nicholas de
Baume just so much the better."
The Marquis rose to his feet and reached out his
hand to the table where lay his accoutrements.
• But, hey, Pranfois, give me a haul before you so
with this sword-belt. It gets shorter every day. cur^s
on It A blue plague on the iU-favoured, spavined,
master-saddler that made it: There goes the bell
On w.th your Sunday face, Francois, and let us go se<i
how true blue Protestants are triced up."
T 1^^^/' ^'^ ^^ ^"®°^' " I ^o^e not the • barbets.'
I think that I will wait tiU they get to the church."
Nonsense, man ! " cried the Marshal, " that you
shaUnot. You would miss the pick of the fun. There
13 always a hot chance of it when my wife hath
the leading-stringB. And as to seeing how Protestants
are tnced up, there is comfort m this— they are as cer-
tam to wish themselves weU out of it in three months
M ever you and I did. who are both good Catholics.
Yet, hke us, also, they must e'en make the best of it ! "
" I said you were a pagan, Nicholas," repeated the
other, and if you mend not your ways—"
" There goes the second bell. Colonel Verlat ! Atten-
tion ! Eyes to the front! Are you accoutred?
J^oUow your commanding officer ! "
As he went Nicholas de Baume chuckled to himself
under his breath.
"Always fun where my wife is," he grumbled, with
unction; did I not teU you so. man vieux. You
shall see ! AHoru ! "
iS^^^:
^^^HAPTER XLVI.
Th. NiohT looks into the PAVILIOir
was makinff hearts «,nV « ! afrnred Hope deferred
been e^JrU'C^ te";^; oli^'prinS^J,' ''•^'
UtoheMMrt «.. u '^ ** preparations in the
held horiiontaUy aC^hL K . ^ "'"■ ''*°'J»
«>«1 into the^^ .;;; """ ''~'"- '""ked down the
or talkedhniMl^^." ohonaters whiapered together
w. C'^iJ-'h^^trintta^'
•vSef ' "'»'' "^ "'"' -"ole'woJd'^rtrlti.t
eo^Tl^e!" ""''"' '""' ''">»'<'''ed courier after
not haveTt ^Mi '^ 7°"°« '«'y, or she would
""mage, ihey might please themselves.
4S8
FLOWER-0»-THE-CORN.
Search him, gentiemen of (he Red House!"
And they searched him. finding tobacco, snuff, and other
contraband of war. but not so much as a scrap of
wntmg concealed about his rags
Being released. BiUy MarshaU laughed in their faces.
Yes. he would accept x horse and set forward, but at
that no^ung could be done about him. So as he
If^^^^J'' ^^""^ ^«"°^' "»^« *^« "^"^ whom the
hiTT^t """"^ **" "^ *"'°*'^' ^'^ "^"^"^ ^^^'^ *** ^^«
"Hanged you will be without a doubt!" cried
^ exasperated Sergeant of the Red House who had
b^nt to brmg him in. " When you get there the
Marshal will be m a temper to skin you alive and eat
you without salt ! "
"Set a Marshal to catoh a Marshall!" said BiUv
21 lu "f^P^ " T^ »8 the best Frenchman that ever
drew the breath of life ! "
♦♦••••
The upper part of the great military paviUon had
been dW A table covered with a rich purple
vdvet doth had been brought, strictly under theM!
from the sacnsty of Our Lady of MiUau by the com-
plaisant eur^en. The thing would please the
Mwquis and-what would you ? A litUe holy water
and a dash of incense would fumigate soon any
lurking Protestantism out of the tissues of vdvet
and gold.
^J^' ^T^'''''' * P^*^° ^^ *»We, made the altar
before which Flower-o'-the-Corn and Jean Cavalier
were to kneel. Patrick WeUwood had already token
up his position behind it. taU. spare, his white hair
falhng wvarenUy over his black Genevan gown
> »V:1!
FLOWEK-O'-THE^iORN. 439
Rr™. .^ mending Ine rents and hole* in it.
beyoS tL*^" ,*'«"8"''"'«' w„ the company,
^^ '?'p'°"' °' '^^ «» headquarter, of a
.mguBlied . Canuaard (now rallied to the iervice
Sott^^' '"°"^ *° «■• "'" "' '"e ch;::^i:
A part of the pavilion had been onrtained off makimr
an entainoe to a enujler m,rguee, and the^R^e^
the tS?? r r '"'*-:'^"' " "*««' '"P«'^»«.
ine iettj which, according to oromiao ».. »
iren'r f/r, *"" -^ who^oT'onrbrirf
mo««t, rfie had cU.ped in her arm, and eaUed W
f«,^il*^ the cnrt«in» which wparated their vummu
It ia infinitely annoyj^ - •■ ' ^'^^ """"^ <«"»« '
qoieUy'^ "' *~'" '»'<• I^owerV-the-Com, very
vJl»°"i'"r? ehanged your mind, then}" «aid
Yvette. laughmg. " You will find yU (Smisari a
better and more faithful hnahanrf t ». """"wa a
officer of my Lord M.rl^ro;;^^lff '""' "^ "^
Com " L' ^."'^^"* ""y '^''•" "'<» Flower-o'-the-
o^";nd"d„r^t" "'^ ''"' •""-' '^'' " '-
haa^X'^irciT"'^' " ^"^ ''^"-'*°- "«'
wrii" ^illl^** ^,' " "y oiream.t«nc« ! » «,id Frances
WeUwood. qmeUy. " And I hope the laat a]» | »
-:^«r^
440
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
««
Bui;* ahe added to henelf. under her breath, **Qod,
uho know* all, will forgivt I **
• • • • • e
There was a noise without. Over all arose the
keen, far-reaohing hillman's shout— half coo-ee, half
yodel of the Cevenol.
" He has come I " cried Yvette, suddenly alert and
radiant, "at Ust!" She was cUd aU in red. likea maple
leaf turned into a flower by one night of autumn frost,
and in her hair, nestled among the weighty black
braids, was a single blossom of the pomegranate, the
most gorgeous scarlet God has made. FloNr?r-o*-thc-
Com was in white, without colour, save for a couple
of spots the size of a florin, which burned steadily one
on either cheek, high up, where the heart's blood leaped
under the fine firm skin. Her ripe-wheat hair, which
had first given the girl her name, rippled and swirled,
alternately like honey in the comb and gold red in the
bar, as you may see them unloading it from Spanish
galleons at the quays of Carthagena.
" A pale bride ! " whispered the maids who attended
on her at command of the Lady Bfar^chale.
" I think she loves the other ! " said her friend,
sagely.
" They mostly do," replied the first, who was of the
order and lineage of her mistress, "not that in the
long run it makes a great deal of di£ference ! "
" It would make a great deal of difiFerence to me ! *'
said her friend, a little dolefully, for she had a hope
in her heart, of which she had not yet informed her
family. He was to " demand her hand " if and when
ho returned from the wan.
" Tut — that does not count — you always wore a
baby ! " said the Mar^chale's personal attendant.
" But hark— there they are ! We shall need to be
FLOWBR-0».THE-CORN.
441
In hT . ^i*"" '*«*'*• "»<* °»ind. do not let it i^
in the centre. Everything depend, ipon that P' ^
Y6.. Billy ManihaU had come at laat W. «.
Bid him come in ! " ghe saiH a«^ ♦!.
And where iB-the other man f " ^'■"''
It was Yvette who answered her.
with^^L"' 'hL'1:'? '^^^^'-^Vm her hands
duU day, down-letter, addre«ed extemiUlv to her
W-»r.-
aPT^-
*48 FL0WBR-0*-THE-C50RN.
Kzotpt the Lord do boild the houie
The bttilden loae their pain ;
Except the Lord the ci^ keep.
Hie watohmen w»toh in rain.
The words were French, of course, but of a like rude
simplicity with the Soots yersion, and the effect was
the same. The tune was the famous March of Spirit
Seguier, to the music of which he went, the soul within
him " like a weU-watered garden." by way of the
torture to the stake.
As Yvette Uughed, the flap of the tent was lifted,
and the girl who had gone out, first snatching her skirts
and lace-edged draperies out of the way of contagion,
let into the marquee a figure at once tremendous in its
power and ridiculous by its fiapping rags— Billy
Marshall, the Scottish gipsy and promised messenger
of Maurice Raith. ^
Flower-o'-the-Com set one hand instinctively to
her heart, and the red florin-pieces on her cheek faded
utterly away. Then she held out the other. The
hand of the gipsy met hers fairly, rested there a long
moment, and fell again to his side. Yvette would have
given half of her kingdom to make sure what it was
that passed between them. But she knew that BUly
Marshall was not a man to trifle with, standing there
tree, his weapons ready to his finger-grip, and no other
raan within calling distance to coerce him. So she had
to be content with promieing herself that he should be
made to speak— afterwards. It did not strike her that
It might possibly be somewhat too Ute— afterwards.
The music ceased. There ensued that waiting huah
which is often ttore trying to the neries than the
wildest excitement, that distinctive and peculiar
silence which tells that a great multitude is waiting for
the appearance of one. The orator hears it in the last
;3t^r_
■■■. 3J» t
■•--i-^f
FLOWER-0»-THE-CORN.
443
minutes before he faoes his audience Th« «i
ta-tee it in the sUence of ^ZZ ^, t"^"''
notes have ceased anrf ♦k- "^^^y after the organ
grim rilhouette of Sik^J VhTl^ ''T ""*
hi. di«m,, for weekTth. « ^ *■ ''" daunted
them w„ luJ^Zitt Zlt'^r?""'- ^'""''
powder cjrefuUy ,„,ded. attached tco^^l'^'
ment to the interior naoA n( ♦!,« i ** "» ."^ agree-
brirfeet glance rf,e thST ^e thl t^/"?' T
bowm. She breathed a lo.« Vh Th."L"'«'° .*""■
np again into her cheek vr„f Jt. "^ ^"'"«>
he .,5, not dece^e^tr.- ^^rweu"*"""^- ^■''
honl^^Tof'i:*^:?'^ !^rr\Tt "'
She loves him after aU ! " ^ ' ^^^-^^ Pushes !
But the subtle Yvette was nnf k„ .
wen ajtiafied. There .JtLZi^ 'ZnT^ "
H y*".' '' *•' "O* "»*»«'. to-morrow aheT^.f"
othe« for her) would make BiUy MaXu JZk 1 "^•
-.^-who h-itm^^n^'j^^^tj" '•-; •?•"
-P»h.w I at feMt had «iu«dTi,^, .k""**"""
tic- of her h^hand, u^n-^rti,*^ X ^-^ '^d
444
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
kept the love of ?!acirioe Raith, delivering, m it were,
that young man oat of the net spread for him.
Moreover, she would also be revenged upon Maurice
Raith, who had been fool enough not to know when
he might have been well ofif. Love him— no, of course
not ! But aU the same had he not kissed her of his
own free wUl ? Well then, he must pay. Already
she had made him pay ! She thought of him writing
that letter on the deck of that British ship and laughed.
Furthermore, he should pay yet more bitterly. She
had not done with Monsieur Maurice Raith. Oh yes,
she, Yvette Foy, had a long arm. Providence could
bring things to pass, but in her own opinion she made
not at al! a bad second. It was the hour of her
triumph, and she tasted its full sweetness as the maids
of honour picked up Flower-o'-the-Com's train, and
the girl herself Ijhrust her hand once more into her
bosom to make sure that Maurice Raith's letter and
enclosure were in safety.
As for Jean Cavalier, Yvotte had no feelings of
revenge satisfied, or to be satisfied, against him. One
may tread upon a black beetle which gets in the way,
but one does not revenge one's self upon it.
The little procession entered the great pavilion about
midway its length. On either side, with a dear fair-
way in the centre, were assembled the guests of the
Marquis and Marquise de Montrevel. Opposite was
the door through which, after the bride's entrance,
the Bfarshal himself would lead in the bridegroom.
The time was come. Even the heart of Yvette her-
self beat a little faster as the trumpets and fifes rang
out. The curtain was lifted by a cord from within.
A haze of glorious light fronted them, flashing uniforms
of blue and scarlet and gold. The maased standards
of a score of regiments, the hangings of the state
IXOWER-O'-THK-CORN.
44<
ta t!^°L:^'"' ?•'-",«<»«« ""If. b.™«d pike.
in'^tt'rnl^t.ni::! '°7?^ *« »«" each other
much diSLtv 4! M •'^° ""P' °P«° "'"> «<>
wa* a great ndged cross of gold, Patrick Wellwo^
r.rrrhe&t^t:ir °— -
lucn, aa he lifted no his hanria in tv.. o » .
invocation of his relisio.i thfr. ^ u"' *''°'°"
louder f,^m wHI.ou"~"fitS Z ,f """' °""''
™ther of death than .i^r^''^^^: "— '
Except the Lord the city keep.
The wfttohmAo watch in v»in
" *■" ''"'™°'" "ke let that whiniog be stopped ! "
416
FLOWER-0*-THE-OORir.
■aid de Montrevel, fiercely ;" I will go myself and ordw
it.
"Huah! Bide where you are!" mnrmnred the
wife, snatching at his sleeve, with a sudden whiten-
ing of the face. "I thought I heard a voice singing—
a voice I remember ! '*
She turned as if to listen. Patrick Wellwood was
raising his voice in sonorous petition.
Suddenly, as Yvette looked, the white wall of the
tent was slashed with a gleaming knife from top to
bottom, and throug** the aperture by which the black
night looked in— ^ i, fierce, tremendous, leaped the
figure of a man. His long grey hair, matted and dank,
feu beneath his shoulders. Madness looked out of his
eyes. A glairy foam hung about his Ups, which kept
up an uncouth muttering.
" I have found them both at once ! " he cried ; "he
who hath led astray my daughter— he who hath made
of her what she is. You— you— you ! " He advanced
towards the Marshal, who stood unmoved, while all
about him seemed paralysed at the sudden fearful
apparition. " Now I, Martin Foy, will slay you and
the woman t(^ther ! *'
And at the word he precipitated himself towards de
Montrevel.
But faster than the flashing of his knife came the
movement of Yvette. "My husband ! My husband f "
And lo ! with a breaking cry she flung henelf fiercely
between the assassin and his victim. Her breast,
white an^: heaving under its lace and silk, received
the madman's stroke fairly. The blood sprang and
fell upon the frosted maple of her wedding garment,
as scarlet as itself in the shrine of the altar candles.
" He is my husband ! I love him ! " she cried.
With a hoarse roar the crowd dosed in to tear the
FLOWEE-O'-THE-COBN. 447
I-opb I To h« place le/K - " h.^ ""^ *""
the guh of blacfaifi-. tl. P \.. ■ «'»'PPe««>d into
not let them marry. It waa my tault." °°
th^^J^Hturr*" '" "^"^ '"'' We within, for
tftj" '.','"* 'T "P°» the stuff of her diee.
Be pitiful, Nicholaa," she aaid " n-jT^'
my father. teU him th^t I .m^tur .Mrri"^^
your true wife. I Wed you, SoUa 1^^ T
'"IdttS^l'."^ beenJ;h.'Gort:i > " '^ '"
And with that she was irone At Ia..* *k i
of Yvette Foy'. life had nof ^hoUy 'J^ot t^
CHAPTER XLVII.
Thb Hunting of a Man.
" Kill the heretics ! Kill » Kill i »» ««-^ *u
swarm of angry wasps. "^"f une a
And had it not been for the Catholic officers most
of Cavaher's new troops would have uul^-^- .
the opinions which they had fo^kln v °*"^ ^
ana .ullenly to their camp, whence by gwimmins th.
But through all the tumult of the «iirlH«« -
who from the fir,t foUowed doggedly the track of Z
»'IX)WER.O'-rHE<X)R.V. „«
whom ,he had Kuo^^y ""* "''""'"y Pfi"". *«
her tool. -^^^^L r!"" ""«. ,*° "«"«' of him
"ubaltem of Zt ^/ -^u °' "'""'"•y """l « young
Foy «fe„t,e«,x thrxrjr; sr. ";r'"
a «ie«rted iL^l^* f "P the fugitive had rushed
»Uckn«» of diaoipline Jrn°J*^Ki *''*" • '*'*"»
office™ had mirSth^"^ '"''*• '"'' "'* ""•'er-
dow„.tu,egrt^usr *°™ ""'"*« "•«• »«"•
long-blXiCimSi^Xt'L'":^?' flight- The
he ,c«ld«, under hb ZXff^ "? •''°-"'« -
brave man too anW ,ij^ « u!- ^®* *»^ was a
are the brave men awaked ThT^ knfe-well, many
might have done even « *d S^/lT"' "IT''- "'"'
the Montpelier Re^meW ^'*"*" ''""*'• °'
Jjp'^a-i^;- f^-^. the m«Un.„
The weight he now^,»^ ^ u- '' """I'mtion.
oomeup^th. CuSo'S'^ ''"" *^' '^" '»
and carVying no wli^T^!;,? T '""''• ^^^e.
turned uT But Lt^'^rf ^„ * "»""«« """I" We
«o.pe wa. the^ma?,^i;!o;:.''°"' """^ "" '"* «""
It waa in the ph.i„ mid,t of'the limLtone dirt of
88
450
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
the largest CauBse in France that they hemmed him in
— or, rather, perhaps, that Martin Foy kneeled down,
calmly looked over his muskets, and laid out his store
of ammunition ready to his hand.
He laughed in guigling murmurs, chuckling to him-
self as he made his preparations. A shot whistled
past his ear. It came from behind one of the thousand
boulders which he had passed on the way — natural
fortresses from whence (had such been his desire) he
might have slaughtered his pursuers with the ease
and certainty uf machinery.
But Martin Foy had come there to die.
On the bald scalp of the Larzao, ground flat by a
thousand years of glacier ice, sparsely patched here
and there with an inch deep fell of juniper and thyme,
creeping plants that sprang from the cracks of the lime-
stone, not a boidder, not a ridge of rook within a
thousand yards— there, where he had lived, would he
make an end.
" Now," he said, smiling triumphantly. " let them
come. It is a fair challenge. I will try my marks-
manship against theirs as soon as the light comes
clearer.**
Another bullet whistled by, skipping over the lime-
stone like an angry bumble-bee. Then Martin Foy
rose to his feet and shouted, because all his life he had
disliked waste.
** Wait till the moon comes out from under that
cloud yonder, and then have at you ! '*
The time appeared to pass slowly for all concerned.
Martin Foy bit on a bullet and emptied a measure of
pcAvder into his hand. Then very carefully he put
the grains back again.
" They keep their guns well enough, these Papists,*'
Uo growled, " but I wiah that fellow had given a touch
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
451
h««d ff t"^ rif "' " " «' "y tin.., b»t now
th«e Ii.teni„g 1 1^ • it h^"'L.°'"'i " ""^"^
daahed in bnt nn~, ^ .. " '"™"* tbe hunter.
• • • .
At iMt out of the dond .lid the moon Th« n,.H
€82
FLOWER-O'-THE-OORN.
moonlight of the Lanao, grey and froat-flltered with
the altitude.
But the quarry also aaw his hunters, and with a
sigh Sergeant-major Peyrat of the Maison Rouge rolled
orer and lay still— rery stUl and with a bitten bullet
in his side.
" One ! " said Biartin Poy— " No, two ! " he corrected
himself, not without a certain glee, as he marked the
moonlight shine dully on the wet blade of his knife. All
the time, up the sides of the Larzao, by the narrow
defiles of the Dourbie, men were climbing — adven-
turous men, brave men, all eager to shed the blood of
the murderer of their general's wife.
Tn an hour they had formed a circle almost complete
about him, some lying on the scanty juniper, some crawl-
ing over the dwtaf heath, or spread abroad upon the
lavender and sage— sprawling, clinging, gliding, sliding
hither and thither like lizards on hot rocks, all eager
for the death of one man— a man who asked no better
than to die. While there — out on the open waste,
knelt Martin Foy— a figure of fear, hatless, his long
grey hair clotted with sweat and blood, his clothing
mere rags of tatters, his white teeth showing in the
moonlight like those of a trapped wolf, now singing
by snatches his Camisard psalms, now yelling and leap-
ing in the mere joy of madness and the lust of blood.
Of all who were out upon the face of the Larzao that
night, he alone made no attempt at concealment. He
sought no shelter. He disdained aUke rook-shelter
and juniper clump. A grim black figt:.r>. out on the
waste, fear-compelling, the spent mocn shedding a
misty aureole about him, loading and firing as fast as
he could send the powder and shot down the barrel,
yelling in unison with the ring of his ramrod— that
was Martin Foy, the mad CanSsard, fighting his last
»10WB1W)'.THB<X)RN.
on tlw haft, dimlaved on th.^11^ ■- ^* ***
1^ u^puyca on Um p,ii„j Im,e,tone before
Montw«| ^- *''• ""'• "f "«' M.rtch.l d.
^«^lt T.. OM^T. TH. MOTH.. O^I^
Aim OF AIX TH. ABOMINATIONS OF TH. iW"
i.y-^^ wiu com. t, ute.^.^;'i;,;^T^
. d.«ght«. of my fle.h. bat™, d. 'h"r'l,^^>::
. »on«« drunken with the blood JZ ^inta^
' ' *» h" •' Wm it not «dl done I " ' '"'*
And at that moment, even aa he cried alnnri k-
canng naocdit for the death that a>tanir to-..^'
on. that «!vanced, he d.„„ted"' ^^^^'^ l^^
^w^ir.
MiaOCOTY RESOLUTION TBT CHART
(ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2)
1*3
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iim
■ 12
iti
|3^
US
14.0
■ 25
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inc
1(iS3 Eost Main Strsel
Rochester, New York U609 USA
(716) 482 - 0300 - Phone
(716) 28a -5989 -Fox
464
FLOWER-O'-THE-CORN.
I am Nicholas de Baume-the husband of her who
the murderer slew ! "
And like a charging buU he rushed fuU at the sing
%ire out there on the flat greyness of the limestone
Now Martin Foy had a loaded musket in his hand an
the Mar^chal de Montrevel was clear against the moo
BB he came towards him. The madman could hav
shot him dead as he had done so many others tha
night. But he had heard the word. A new ide
flashed across his brain, now crystal clear, anon workin
like yeast. ^
^^ "Her husband/'' he shouted in a mighty voice
If that be true then I, Martin Foy, have shed innocen
blood. It is here upon this blade ! *'
" Red to the haft ! " he cried as he caught it up ii
the pale glinting of the moon. " God of gods, let m«
bear the sin alone ! "
And with a hand sure and tried, he plunged th(
great Camisard knife, yet red with the blood of hi.
daughter, deep into his own throat.
Sblah — A Song nr Antiphony.
Catinat the prophet and one Roland, called the
Red, were standing at the door of the Protestant
lemple m the village of La Cavalerie. The daily
service was beginning. Within the psalms were being
chaunt«d, and without the leaders, having matters to
arrange for the safety of the defences, which were still
bemg held to the death, spoke softlv together.
FLOWii:R.O'.THE.CORN.
455
daily service of praise ! ^® ^ *^ ** their
"Mine own familiar friend in =k
Hath Uted ap hia heel .pu,„, „„ ,.
T..e„ changing to a softer »eaaure the aong .e„t on :
"The sacrifices of dvi »-„ i .
^broWa^dlrtrriTJir-^^^'^^
Thou. O God. wilt not despise , l:
-;\trfX VtLf^^^^^^^ ^^at true
more he is dividing the wtv^ 7^^ ^""^°°d- Once
for the truth-^^n to 7hL ^^^^^diers who fight
ArdmiUan ! » ^ ^^^^ "^^^^ the regiment of
Within the psaJm was changed Th. .
stronger and more rejoicef u% ^^ *"°« ^^me
Tb?t Sr^e^ trth '^f^^u^ ^' "-«" of water
inue m his season. !!
" And his daughter ? " said K. i i
e^igerly. " VerL^ she was a shnn. .'''^' '^^^'' °»°re
an herb of grace ! » '^°°' °^ * goodly tree-
^^^^^^t'^t:^^ ^-^and is now
f'atrick WeUwood, ^no^ T"r''-^*^^^^^'«ayeth
ArdmiUans but kaTthWo^L^'"^^' '^ ^e citUed
strange to the ear. Thev arri^ "^""^ sufficiently
«». their children. But. he adds fjf^ "".^'^ ^'^^^ ^nd
^th them, hath ffone I^kJ^ "^'^^ °*an that was
Keltonhillj" *^°''^ ^ *^**^« at a place call^
456
FLOWER-O'-THE^OKN.
* * ♦
" And stiJJ." skid R«i» j » . * *
dofenoed village^' Th! ,?"' "1 ""-' ^^ h"
"For that give G^ Zt?" "^ ""''*" ' "
uncovering devoutly ^^^'y' qnoth stout Ca
"'^ '° '^^"«^^«o ' AMi^r AND A.,
THB END.
lfr.Vnewed to 6e « ^rue Tale *, /
jW*^j: ►- iC
i affirniacion.
rean Cavalier
^ay hold our
3t made an
•n ! "
out Catinat,
ayer, where
3i came the
's worship :
try
AND AmsnIU
Od
0/
-8.