The sun was fast declining among the rich and glowing clouds of an autumnal evening, and pouring its melancholy l.u.s.tre upon the woods and the old towers of Leixlip, as the young man rode into that ancient town. How different were his present feelings from those with which he had last traversed the quiet little village--then his bright hopes and cheery fancies had tinged every object he looked on with their own warm and happy colouring; but now, alas! how mournful the reverse. With the sweet illusions he had so fondly cherished had vanished all the charm of all he saw; the scene was disenchanted now, and all seemed coloured in the sombre and chastened hues of his own deep melancholy; the river, with all its brawling falls and windings, filled his ear with plaintive harmonies, and all its dancing foam-bells, that chased one another down its broad eddies, glancing in the dim, discoloured light of the evening sun, seemed but so many images of the wayward courses and light illusions of human hope; even the old ivy-mantled towers, as he looked upon their time-worn front, seemed to have suffered a century"s decay since last he beheld them; every scene that met his eye, and every sound that floated to his ear on the still air of evening, was alike charged with sadness.
At a slow pace, and with a heart oppressed, he pa.s.sed the little town, and soon its trees, and humble roofs, and blue curling smoke were left far behind him. He had proceeded more than a mile when the sun descended, and the dusky twilight began to deepen. He spurred his horse, and at a rate more suited to the limited duration of the little light which remained, he rode at a sharp trot along the uneven way toward Dublin. He had not proceeded far at this rate when he overtook a gentleman on horseback, who was listlessly walking his steed in the same direction, and who, on seeing a cavalier thus wending his way on the same route, either with a view to secure good company upon the road, or for some other less obvious purpose, spurred on also, and took his place by the side of our young friend. O"Connor looked upon his uninvited companion with a jealous eye, for his night adventure of a few months since was forcibly recalled to his memory by the circ.u.mstances of his present situation. The person who rode by his side was, as well as he could descry, a tall, lank man, with a hooked nose, heavy brows, and sallow complexion, having something grim and ascetic in the character of his face. After turning slightly twice or thrice towards O"Connor, as if doubtful whether to address him, the stranger at length accosted the young man.
"A fair evening this, sir," said he, "and just cool enough to make a brisk ride pleasant."
O"Connor a.s.sented drily, and without waiting for a renewal of the conversation, spurred his horse into a canter, with the intention of leaving his new companion behind. That personage was not, however, so easily to be shaken off; he, in turn, put his horse to precisely the same pace, and remarked composedly,--
"I see, sir, you wish to make the most of the light we"ve left us; dark riding, they say, is dangerous riding hereabout. I suppose you ride for the city?"
O"Connor made no answer.
"I presume you make Dublin your halting-place?" repeated the man.
"You are at liberty, sir," replied O"Connor, somewhat sharply, "to presume what you please; I have good reasons, however, for not caring to bandy words with strangers. Where I rest for the night cannot concern anybody but myself."
"No offence, sir--no offence meant," replied the man, in the same even tone, "and I hope none taken."
A silence of some minutes ensued, during which O"Connor suddenly slackened his horse"s pace to a walk. The stranger made a corresponding alteration in that of his.
"Your pace, sir, is mine," observed the stranger. "We may as well breathe our beasts a little."
Another pause followed, which was at length broken by the stranger"s observing,--
"A lucky chance, in truth. A comrade is an important acquisition in such a ride as ours promises to be."
"I already have one of my own choosing," replied O"Connor drily; "I ride attended."
"And so do I," continued the other, "and doubtless our trusty squires are just as happy in the rencounter as are their masters."
A considerable silence ensued, which at length was broken by the stranger.
"Your reserve, sir," said he, "as well as the hour at which you travel, leads me to conjecture that we are both bound on the same errand. Am I understood?"
"You must speak more plainly if you would be so," replied O"Connor.
"Well, then," resumed he, "I half believe that we shall meet to-night--where it is no sin to speak loyalty."
"Still, sir, you leave me in the dark as to your meaning," replied O"Connor.
"At a certain well of sweet water," said the man with deliberate significance--"is it not so--eh--am I right?"
"No, sir," replied O"Connor, "your sagacity is at fault; or else, it may be, your wit is too subtle, or mine too dull; for, if your conjectures be correct, I cannot comprehend your meaning--nor indeed is it very important that I should."
"Well, sir," replied he, "I am seldom wrong when I hazard a guess of this kind; but no matter--if we meet we shall be better friends, I promise you."
They had now reached the little town of Chapelizod, and darkness had closed in. At the door of a hovel, from which streamed a strong red light, the stranger drew his bridle, and called for a cup of water. A ragged urchin brought it forth.
"_Pax Domini vobisc.u.m_," said the stranger, restoring the vessel, and looking upward steadfastly for a minute, as if in mental prayer, he raised his hat, and in doing so exhibited the monkish tonsure upon his head; and as he sate there motionless upon his horse, with his sable cloak wrapped in ample folds about him, and the strong red light from the hovel door falling upon his thin and well-marked features, bringing into strong relief the prominences of his form and attire, and shining full upon the drooping head of the tired steed which he bestrode--this equestrian figure might have furnished no unworthy study for the pencil of Schalken.
In a few minutes they were again riding side by side along the street of the straggling little town.
"I perceive, sir," said O"Connor, "that you are a clergyman. Unless this dim light deceives me, I saw the tonsure when you raised your hat just now."
"Your eyes deceived you not--I am one of a religious order," replied the man, "and perchance not on that account a more acceptable companion to you."
"Indeed you wrong me, reverend sir," said O"Connor. "I owe you an apology for receiving your advances as I have done; but experience has taught me caution; and until I know something of those whom I encounter on the highway, I hold with them as little communication as I can well avoid. So far from being the less acceptable a companion to me by reason of your sacred office, believe me, you need no better recommendation. I am myself an humble child of the true Church; and her ministers have never claimed respect from me in vain."
The priest looked searchingly at the young man; but the light afforded but an imperfect scrutiny.
"You say, sir," rejoined he after a pause, "that you acknowledge our father of Rome--that you are one of those who eschew heresy, and cling constantly to the old true faith--that you are free from the mortal taint of Protestant infidelity."
"That do I with my whole heart," rejoined O"Connor.
"Are you, moreover, one of those who still look with a holy confidence to the return of better days? When the present order of things, this usurped government and abused authority, shall pa.s.s away like a dark dream, and fly before the glory of returning truth. Do you look for the restoration of the royal heritage to its rightful owner, and of these afflicted countries to the bosom of mother Church?"
"Happy were I to see these things accomplished," rejoined O"Connor; "but I hold their achievement, except by the intervention of Almighty Providence, impossible. Methinks we have in Ireland neither the spirit nor the power to do it. The people are heartbroken; and so far from coming to the field in this quarrel, they dare not even speak of it above their breath."
"Young man, you speak as one without understanding. You know not this people of Ireland of whom you speak. Believe me, sir, the spirit to right these things is deep and strong in the bosoms of the people. What though they do not cry aloud in agony for vengeance, are they therefore content, and at their heart"s ease?
""Quamvis tacet Hermogenes, cantor tamen atque, Optimus est modulator."
"Their silence is not dumbness--you shall hear them speak plainly yet."
"Well, it may be so," rejoined O"Connor; "but be the people ever so willing, another difficulty arises--where are the men to lead them on?--who are they?"
The priest again looked quickly and suspiciously at the speaker; but the gloom prevented his discerning the features of his companion. He became silent--perhaps half-repenting his momentary candour, and rode slowly forward by O"Connor"s side, until they had reached the extremity of the town. The priest then abruptly said,--
"I find, sir, I have been wrong in my conjecture. Our paths at this point diverge, I believe. You pursue your way by the river"s side, and I take mine to the left. Do not follow me. If you be what you represent yourself, my command will be sufficient to prevent your doing so; if otherwise, I ride armed, and can enforce what I conceive necessary to my safety. Farewell."
And so saying, the priest turned his horse"s head in the direction which he had intimated, rode up the steep ascent which loomed over the narrow level by the river"s side; and his dark form quickly disappeared beyond the brow of the dusky hill. O"Connor"s eyes instinctively followed the retreating figure of his companion, until it was lost in the profound darkness; and then looking back for any dim intimation of the presence of his trusty follower, he beheld nothing but the dark void. He listened; but no sound of horse"s hoofs betokened pursuit. He shouted--he called upon his squire by name; but all in vain; and at length, after straining his voice to its utmost pitch for six or ten minutes without eliciting any other reply than the prolonged barking of half the village curs in Chapelizod, he turned away, and pursued his course alone, consoling himself with the reflection that his attendant was at least as well acquainted with the way as was he himself, and that he could not fail to reach the "c.o.c.k and Anchor" whenever he pleased to exert himself for the purpose.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE SQUIRES.
O"Connor had scarcely been joined by the priest, when Larry Toole, who jogged quietly on, pipe in mouth, behind his master, was accosted by his reverence"s servant, a stout, clean-limbed fellow, arrayed in blue frieze, who rode a large, ill-made horse, and b.u.mped listlessly along at that easy swinging jog at which our southern farmers are wont to ride. The fellow had a shrewd eye, and a pleasant countenance withal to look upon, and might be in years some five or six and thirty.
"G.o.d save you, neighbour," said he.
"G.o.d save you kindly," rejoined Mr. Toole graciously.
"A plisint evenin" for a quiet bit iv a smoke," rejoined the stranger.
"None better," rejoined Larry, scanning the stranger"s proportions, to see whether, in his own phrase, "he liked his cut." The scrutiny evidently resulted favourably, for Larry removed his pipe, and handing it to his new acquaintance, observed courteously, "Maybe you"d take a draw, neighbour."