The King's Highway eBook

George Payne Rainsford James
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 646 pages of information about The King's Highway.

The King's Highway eBook

George Payne Rainsford James
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 646 pages of information about The King's Highway.

The Duke’s dinner in the Tower was over.  He had been much agitated all day, and Laura had been agitated also, but she had concealed her emotions, in order not to increase those of her father.  It was, as we have said, Sunday, and the service of the church had occupied some part of that long day’s passing; but the rest had gone by very slowly, especially as the only two events which occurred to break or diversify the time told that there were other persons busy without, in matters regarding which neither Laura nor her father could take the slightest part, but which affected the future fate of both in the highest degree.  Those two incidents were the arrival of Wilton’s note, which we have already mentioned, and a visit from the chaplain of the Tower, to tell the Duke and Lady Laura that he had received directions and the proper authorization (few of those things were needed, indeed, in those days) to perform the ceremony of marriage between her and Wilton at any hour that she chose to name.  A considerable time passed after this visit, and yet Wilton did not appear.  The Duke began to look towards Laura with anxious eyes, and once he said, “I hope, Laura, you neither did nor said anything yesterday to make Wilton act coldly or unwillingly in this business?”

“Indeed, my dear father, I did not,” replied Lady Laura, “and he promised me firmly to do everything in his power.  Something has detained him; but depend upon it there is no cause either to fear or to doubt.”

Such assurances, for a time, seemed to soothe the Duke, and put his mind more at ease; but as time passed, and still Wilton did not appear, his anxiety returned again; he would walk up and down the room; he would gaze out of the window; he would east himself into a chair with a deep sigh; and though he said nothing more, Laura, was bitterly grieved on his account, and began to share his anxiety for the result.  At length a distant door was heard to open, then came the sound of the well-known step in the ante-room, making Laura’s heart beat, and the Duke smile; but there was nothing joyful in the tread of that step:  it was slow and thoughtful; and after the hand was placed upon the lock of the door, there was still a pause, which, though in reality very brief, seemed long to the prisoner and his daughter.  At length, however, the door opened, and Wilton himself entered the room.  There came a smile, too, upon his lip, but Laura could not but see that smile was a very sad one.

“We have been waiting for you most anxiously, my dear Wilton,” said the Duke:  “we have fancied all manner of things, all sorts of difficulties and obstacles; for I well knew that nothing but matters of absolute necessity would keep you from the side of your dear bride at this moment.”

“But you still look sad, Wilton,” said Lady Laura, holding out her hand to him.  “Let us hear, Wilton, let us hear all at once, dear Wilton.  Has anything happened to derange our plans, or prevent my father’s escape?”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The King's Highway from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.