I stole out of the room with a mist in my eyes.
When I got on the corner by the Prince"s lodging, the first thing that caught my eye was a calash drawn up in the middle of the square, with two very elegant ladies in it, and a sprig of a blackamoor in green breeches and yellow doublet at the horse"s head. Margaret and Maclachlan were standing by, and a merry rattle of conversation was going on between them and the new-comers, though Margaret, her quick mind interested in the vivid scenes around, kept turning her head to sweep the square with her eyes.
I had always felt and, for the most part I trust, observed the difference between us, but it struck me now like a blow between the eyes. It was easy to see that Margaret, for all her grey domino, was the mistress of the gay, courtly group; easy, too, to catch the meaning of the eyes the stranger ladies made at one another as they noted with amus.e.m.e.nt the young Chief"s infatuation. Well, he was there, and I was here, by right. I said so to myself very savagely, that there should be no mistake about it, but I must admit to a sour taste in my mouth as I pushed into a pa.s.sing group of clansmen, and then dodged behind a clump of ammunition wagons, and so got into a side-alley unseen by those searching eyes.
I came to an ale-house where I managed very well, for all that it had its full share of clansmen stuffed into it, making a square meal of bread and cheese and cold bacon, washed down with excellent ale. I made a point of marking myself off as an Englishman by paying for my meal in the English fashion.
Sallying forth, and still avoiding the square, I roamed round the little town, distracting my mind by forcing an interest in what was going on. The Highlanders were happy, noisy, and full of confidence--not unjustly, for so far they had played ninepins with the Royal troops. Everywhere they were hard at it, sharpening dirks and claymores and furbishing muskets, and such of their talk as I could understand was all of battle imminent.
In the churchyard I found a number of them practising shooting, with a grand old cross as a target. They had chipped it somewhat already. I cursed them roundly and then bargained it off at the price of a few shillings. They turned their attention, with hopeful grins, to the bra.s.s weatherc.o.c.k on the church tower, which I did not deem worth saving.
Moreover, it was a better mark, and good shooting was to be encouraged.
I mooned around for an hour or so, very miserable. If my mind was idle a moment, I saw Jack"s body lying in the dim-lit pa.s.sage and the calash in the market-square.
Tired of watching the Highlanders, I suddenly struck out for the "Angel,"
intending to see how the horses were doing, a necessary task which I was to blame for neglecting so long. I was going at a great pace along by the shops on one side of the square and, in heedlessly pa.s.sing a mercer"s, had to skip aside to avoid a finely dressed lady coming out of the door, with the shopmaster, his nose nearly at his knees, bowing behind her. She was a stranger to me and, moreover, I had my eye on the spot where the calash had stood, so that, having clean avoided her, I was for striding on, but she said sharply, "What do you mean by such conduct, sir?"
I cannot remember any other occasion in my life when I have been so completely taken aback. The elegant lady who stood there, a quizzing smile on her face and a roguish twinkle in her eyes, was Margaret.
"I"ve waited and waited your honour"s convenience till I could wait no longer," she said.
There was still the delightful mock anger in her voice, but the smile and twinkle changed their meaning, so to speak. At least I, who delighted to watch the varying shades of expression sweep over her exquisite face, thought so as I stood there, twizzling my cap in my hand, and feeling an utter fool.
"You cannot expect a perfect match in this light," she went on, plainly enjoying my discomfiture, "especially as I have had to carry the colour in my eye."
"No, madam," said I desperately, having to say something, but not having the faintest idea of what she was driving at.
"I disclaim all responsibility if it"s a bungle. It will be your fault entirely. Your arm, sir!"
I offered her my arm, into which she slipped hers, jammed on my wretched hat, and together we made for the "Angel." Of course we must meet Maclachlan, to complete my misery I suppose, and he was keen on joining us, but Margaret disposed of him in a way that reminded me of Kate shooing a turkey off from her feeding chickens. Arrived at the "Angel," she led the way to her parlour overlooking the square, dragged me hurriedly to the window, and undid the packet. From it she took a patch of cloth and a hank of silk thread. These she first dabbed on my sleeve, and then flourished before my eyes.
"Quite a good match after all! Do they suit me, Oliver?"
She was dressed in a cinnamon-brown joseph, b.u.t.toned at the waist, and showing, above and below, an under-dress of supple woven material, creamy in colour and flowered in golden silk. A hat of a military cast, made of some short-napped fur and set off with a great white panache, half hid and half revealed her ma.s.ses of yellow hair.
"You look perfect," I said emphatically.
"For my Prince," she replied softly. "Off with your coat, and let me show you what sort of a housewife I am."
I did as she bade me, and she doffed hat and joseph. She set me comfortably before the fire in an elbow-chair, and handed me a new pipe and a fresh paper of tobacco, and insisted on my smoking. Then, sitting almost at my feet in a squat rush-bottomed chair, with quaint bow legs and a back like a yard of ladder, she set to work on the holes Brocton"s rapier had made in my coat.
I felt very cubbish as I sat feeding my soul on the picture she made as she bent over her st.i.tchery. A rare hobbledehoy I was in my villainous coat, but what I looked like in my shirt-sleeves, good linen enough but home-made and with never a shred of cuff or ruff to them, was past imagining.
She was quite silent too, and though talk of any sort would have been distasteful to me then, for the picture was enough, I could not help remembering how she had rattled on with Maclachlan. Here was another cursed deficiency. My conversation was as country-like and poverty-stricken as my clothes. I had always ruled the roast at our market ordinaries, where I was looked upon as a bit of a fop and a miracle of learning, and even my farming was solemnly respected because I was so hard and ready a hitter. Here, in a parlour and with her, so beautiful that even her beautiful dress scarce attracted a pa.s.sing glance, I was dull and ill at ease. The only thing I did, except to look at her, was to let my pipe out and light it again, time after time.
"The man in the shop told me," Margaret said, "that was the best tobacco that comes from the Americas."
"I should think it is," said I; "I"ve never smoked better."
"It gives you a lot of trouble," she answered, and stayed her st.i.tching for a moment to look at me.
"Did you get some right Strasburg for the Colonel?" I asked.
"No. Is he running short?"
"Yes," said I.
"And no marvel, either. He puts his snuff-box under his pillow, and when I take him his chocolate of a morning, he takes a long, affectionate pinch, and then says, "Good morrow, sweetheart!""
I laughed, and then fell silent and wondered. While I had been loafing about the town, she had been attending to my small whims and needs.
And now, after a smart rap at the door, in flounced a sprightly, elegant lady, very gay and very certain of herself.
"What a charming, domestic picture!" she broke out. "I fear I intrude, Margaret dear, but I"m going to stay. The girl is bringing up the tea, and I"m positively dying for a cup and a sit-down. Of course this"--turning gaily round on me, standing there like a great gawk, volubly cursing my shirt-sleeves under my breath--"is the incomparable Oliver! Charmed to meet you, sir!"
I bowed, and Margaret said staidly, "Yes, my lady. This is Master Oliver Wheatman of the Hanyards. Oliver, I have the privilege of introducing you to the Lady Ogilvie."
I bent in the middle again and gabbled something. It was suitable to the occasion, I hope.
Lady Ogilvie eyed me up and down carefully, much as I should overlook a bullock I had a mind to buy.
"When Davie left me at Macclesfield I told him I"d be guid, and I will be guid, but I wish he hadn"t asked me," she said. "Never mind! At Derby, when we meet again, my promise will be lapsed, and I shall flirt with you, sir, most furiously."
"Really, my lady," I replied, "my knowledge of the art of flirtation is merely rudimentary, but I always understood that it required two."
"Naturally," she retorted, "that"s its great charm."
"I see my mistake now," said I, as if thoughtfully. Margaret sat with her needle poised for a st.i.tch, and waited.
"You"re learning already, you see! What is it?" said Lady Ogilvie.
"One and a bit would suffice when your ladyship was the one," I said boldly.
Margaret laughed and resumed the swift play of her needle.
"Indeed so, and I"ve struck sparks out of turnips in my time," she replied, with much complaisance. "There"s a glisk of intelligence about ye now that was sair to seek when I came into the room. Men are like diamonds, you must know, Margaret darling, all the better for being cut and rubbed. I"ll teach ye things, sir, at and after Derby, that is. Till then I"m to be verra guid."
The bringing in of the tea interrupted us. Over the cups, though Margaret stuck to her work, there was gay talk about the main business of the day--the supper and ball to come.
"The men will simply rave over you, dear," she said to Margaret. "There"s only six of us, seven with you added, you see, for no town ladies wait on His Royal Highness nowadays, and I"m danced off my feet. Maclachlan will want you every time, and you"ll be wise to have him as often as possible, for he dances like a fairy. Davie"s none so bad, but Maclachlan is just grand. And the incomparable one," grimacing prettily at me, "will foot it trippingly by the look of him."
"I dance like a three-legged bear," said I, grim enough at having my defects brought home to me.
"Is it that you"re telling me?" she replied. "Legs like yours and no music in them! Well, well, I"ll take you in hand, that"s flat. At Derby, of course."
"Now, Oliver, pray attend to the simpler matters that I deal with," said Margaret, cutting off the last needle of silk. "I"ve done the best I can for you. Come and appraise my work!"
She held the coat up by the collar, and I stepped forward and examined it.