Eustace wrote all that needed to be said, and sent the letters, with
the purse and tokens that Sir James had given him for them, with a
flag of truce to the enemy's camp.
Then came still darker days--my father's death at Marston Moor, the
year of losses, and Eustace's wound at Naseby, and his illness almost
to death. When he was recovering, Harry Merrycourt, to whom he had
given his parole, was bound to take him to London for his trial,
riding by easy stages as he could endure it, whilst Harry took as
much care of him as if he had been his brother. On the Saturday they
were to halt over the Sunday at the castle of my Lord Hartwell, who
had always been a notorious Roundhead, having been one of the first
to take the Covenant.
Being very strong, and the neighbourhood being mostly of the
Roundhead mind, his castle had been used as a place of security by
many of the gentry of the Parliamentary party while the Royal forces
were near, and they had not yet entirely dispersed, so that the place
overflowed with guests; and when Harry and Eustace came down to
supper, they found the hall full of company. Lord Walwyn was
received as if he were simply a guest. While he was being presented
to the hostess on coming down to supper, there was a low cry, then a
confusion among the ladies, round some one who had fainted.
'The foolish moppet,' said my unmerciful sister, 'to expose herself
and poor Walwyn in that way!'
I pitied her, and said that she could not help it.
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