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"I would willingly have saved the old man," he continued,
"but the evidence was too plain against him. He was
convicted on the witness of one who heard him not only
reading and speaking heresy, but striving to corrupt you.
There was nothing to be done."
Still Jack did not reply, though the priest paused as though
expecting him to speak.
"For you, my son, I would fain save you from a like fate,"
continued Father Barnaby. "I trust to be able to do so, if
only you will be conformable and docile as becomes your
youth. You will be brought before us in the morning early,
before the execution takes place, and I have come to see if
any argument of mine can move you so that you shall then
be ready to confess your errors."
"You are very silent, my son. May I not hope that you are
coming to a better mind? Upon what are you meditating so
deeply?"
Father Barnaby colored and bit his lip. "You are scarce civil,
my son."
"I meant not to be uncivil," said Jack. "So far as you mean
kindly, I thank you; but the things you propose have no
charms for me at present. I am too near death not to see
their true character. As a man would be a fool who should
give away the inheritance of a kingdom for the sake of
playing the king one day before the eyes of man, so do I
hold him a million times a fool who barters his assured hope
of a heavenly inheritance for aught this world has to give."
"Ay," said Jack; "but suppose I lie to the Church, how shall I
know that the Church will not lie to me? Once more, father,
I thank you. I do believe you are willing to save my life, but
I tell you plainly that I have no mind to be saved in any
such way. I know that the God I serve can yet deliver me
out of your hands, if such be His will, and I am content that
His will be done. In all courtesy, I pray you to trouble me no
more, but to leave me to the rest I need."
"I shall also pray for you," returned Jack; "and so I bid you
good-night."
CHAPTER XXIII.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
"You may see them if you will," Jack was beginning, but the
jailer interrupted him—
"Whence did you obtain your heretical books?" was the next
question.
"That will do!" said Father Barnaby. "We have heard enough
of these blasphemies without troubling you to repeat them.
Is it your belief that your brother is wholly a heretic?"
"I know right well what I say," returned Anne. "It is no new
thing. The work was began in the convent by Agnes
Harland, and was finished by the reading of God's Word. I
—" She stopped, strove to continue, raised her hands as if
grasping for something, and then, slipping from Jack's
arms, she sank senseless to the ground.
"So! Did I not tell you she was beside herself?" said Father
Barnaby. "Master Lucas, has your daughter been ailing?"
"Ay, that will I," replied Master Lucas, raising Anne in his
arms. "My son, my dear son! How can I leave you here?"
"Think not of that now, dear father, but take care of Anne
and of yourself," said Jack. "I trust we shall meet again in a
better place where no malice of our enemies can separate
us."
But Brother Joseph evidently shrank from the task. "He has
just embraced and kissed this woman, your reverence," said
he, "and—"
With a smile, Jack kissed his sister once more and walked
back to his place. His bearing evidently made a strong
impression on the prior, who whispered something to his
fellow inquisitors, to which Father Barnaby replied with a
frown. As soon as Anne was removed, Jack was again
questioned as to the person from whom he had received his
books. He resolutely declined to answer.
"Let them bring hither the old man," said the prior. "He will
perhaps be more complying this morning. My lad, if you
would save yourself and your uncle from sharp pain, you
must answer freely. Did you receive your book from Sir
William Leavett?"
"No," answered Jack decidedly. "So far I can satisfy you, but
I shall answer no more questions."
"Here is the bishop's sumner and two other men, who have
ridden express with a letter from the bishop to Father
Barnaby," returned the brother. "He will deliver it into the
reverend father's own hands."
"Bid him come in," was the reply, and the sumner or
summoner entered, a stout, good-natured looking man,
whose air and complexion savored more of the alehouse
than of the church. Father Barnaby opened the letter which
was presented to him, and as he did so a look of intense
vexation and annoyance passed over his face. He crushed
the letter in his hand, and then as if recollecting himself, he
smoothed it out once more and restored it to the cover. The
prior cast an inquiring glance at him.
"My orders are to carry him back with me that his lordship
may examine him," returned the sumner somewhat bluntly.
"I would lose no time, so please you, for the days are short.
We will but wait to refresh ourselves and our beasts and
then ride forth without delay. I have a spare horse for the
young man."
"Treat the men well, have your wits about you, and when
you hear the owls hoot, keep a good lookout."
Jack pocketed the purse, and being at last mounted and
placed between the sumner and one of his men, the party
set off at a good pace and were soon clear of the town. Jack
would fain have had news of his sister, but that was clearly
out of the question. They had ridden some four or five miles
in silence, when they passed a decent looking alehouse, and
Jack remarked—
"That have I," answered Jack; "and I dare say you and
these good fellows will not be the worse for a can of ale to
wet your throats."
The sun had now sunk pretty low, and the road bordered by
woods on one side, and on the other by a desolate hillside,
was in deep shadow. Jack remarked how dismal the wood
looked, and how deep the shadows were. The sumner
assented, and started nervously and crossed himself, as the
hooting of an owl was heard among the trees, which was
answered by another voice farther on.
CONCLUSION.
Putting it into his bosom, he called Simon into the shop, and
locking himself into his own room, he read the following
letter:
"I doubt not, dearest father, you have heard ere this of
what chanced in Warton wood. I write now from the cabin
of a vessel to tell you of my safety thus far, and that I have
good hope of escaping to Germany along with Paul. I have
had the kindest and most hospitable treatment at the house
where I have been before I came on board this vessel,
which waited for me at a place near at hand. I name no
names for fear of trouble. Dear father, I pray you be very
kind to Mary Brent's family, and, so far as may be,
discharge the debt I owe to young Mr. Harland and his
brother. Also, if it lies in your way, do something to pleasure
the bishop's sumner, who treated me courteously and kindly
while I was in his hands. I shall write again when I can do
so safely. My love to all at home, especially dearest Anne,
and also my duty to Father John, who exerted himself
greatly in my behalf. I cannot now write more, for we are
about to sail. Dear father and sister, pray for me."
The letter was not signed. Master Lucas read it again and
again, and then going down to the bakehouse, he put it into
the hottest fire. He then returned to the shop and busied
himself in doing up the goods named in Lady Harland's list,
and a little relieving his heart by adding thereto a large
packet of sugar candy and some rare and precious spices
and perfumes which he had obtained from London through
the agency of Master Fleming. He had hardly finished when
the stranger entered the shop once more.