'We
are living poorly enough, but my lord's good daughter Jane Doth her
best for us and hath of late sent us a supply; so we are making merry
while it lasts, and shall have some sleighing on ice-hills to-morrow,
after the fashion of the country. Do you come, my good lad is
cruelly moped in yonder black-hung place, with his widowed sister and
her mother-in-law, and I would fain give him a little sport with
young folk.'
Lady Newcastle's speech was cut short by her lord, who came to insist
on her getting into the coach, which was delaying for her, and on the
way home Nan began to tell me of her droll pretensions, which were
like an awkward imitation of the best days of the Hotel Rambouillet.
She also told me about the noble-hearted Lady Jane Cavendish, the
daughter of the Marquis's first marriage--how she held out a house of
her father against the rebels, and acted like a brave captain, until
the place was stormed, and she and her sister were made prisoners.
The Roundhead captain did not treat them with over-ceremony, but such
was the Lady Jane's generous nature that when the Royalists came to
her relief, and he was made captive in his turn, she saved his life
by her intercession.
She had since remained in England, living in a small lodge near the
ruins of her father's house at Bolsover, to obtain what she could for
his maintenance abroad, and to collect together such remnants of the
better times as she might, such as the family portraits, and the
hangings of the hall.
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