Frances Mary Peard

“ It was dreadful to Hugh to behold Peter in the distance, and to be restrained from falling upon him, and the fair had quite lost its charm, though the noise and stir had increased. Costard-mongers were bawling apples—red, white, and grey costards—at the top of their voices; pig-women inviting the passers-by to partake of the roast pig which smoked on their tables; tooth-drawers and barbers, each proclaiming his calling more loudly than the other. The abbot of a neighbouring monastery had his palfrey surrounded by a group of clothiers, while a fool in motley was the centre of another group. ”

“ He had grown old and feeble, no longer able to swing about from rafter to beam as in old days, most content to lie near the fire, wrapped in a piece of warm scarlet Flemish wool which they provided for him, and in his old age showing yet more markedly his likes and dislikes. Never had he done more than tolerate Prothasy, and now, when she came near him, he chattered and scolded with all his weak might. Franklyn, one or two of the men, and prentice Hal he detested equally, but there was a new prentice, Gilbert, whom he permitted to stroke him. Joan he loved, saving always when Hugh was near. ”

“ He could resign himself, it was a far harder matter to resign this young life, so full of vigorous promise—to give up with him all the hopes in which he had indulged of fame to come to his name, though not in his life. He had dreamt of late much of this; had pictured Hugh leaping to eminence, leaving his mark as a stone-carver in some beautiful cathedral, where age after age his work should stand, and when men asked who had done this great thing, the answer would be—Hugh Bassett. ”

“ With a cry of rage Andrew leaped back from the bows, seized the rudder, and using all his strength forced her head somewhat round. It was a strange sight, this struggle of the man with the elements. The man standing undaunted in the midst of a hurly-burly which threatened quick death, facing his danger without flinching, resolute, bent upon snatching every advantage which skill could give him. That the vessel was drifting against the wall of red rock before them was plain; Stephen, clutching Hugh in his arms, wondered that the master should hope to avert it. ”

“ But Hugh could neither see nor think of them, he was in so much dread that Joan would be swept or dragged off her standing place. The people were wild to have sight of the king, and those who were behind looked covetously at the projection. One or two pressed violently by Hugh, muttering that children were best left at home, and at last, as the cavalcade drew nearer and the excitement heightened, a wizened little man pushed the girl off and would have clambered into the place if a stronger fellow had not collared him and climbed there himself. ”

“ Bassett answered. “I have thought much of that. But I hope to have time yet to place him somewhere where he can follow my craft and build his own fortunes.”
“And you would throw away his advancement for a dream?”
“Is it a dream?” said the carver. “Believe me, your worship, that, although you may find it hard to believe, we men of art have our ambitions as strong in us as in the proudest knight of King Edward’s court. Hugh has that in him which I have fostered and cherished, and which I believe will bear fruit hereafter and bring him, or his art, fame.” ”

“ He added these words under his breath, but Stephen Bassett caught them.
“Ay,” he said, “so long as we are saved from sinking into a nation of curs such as thee.”
The cobbler cast an infuriated look at him as he walked on, the flush which Hugh loved to see on his cheek.
“That was an evil man, father,” said the boy. Bassett was silent for a space.
“There are many such discontented knaves,” he returned at last, “eating like a canker into the very heart of our nation. Self, self, that is the limit to which their thoughts rise. And they measure all others by their own petty standard—even the king. ”

“ Sir Thomas was silent, but perhaps thinking to pleasure him, the chaplain pushed the matter.
“But thou mayest choose for thyself now that thy father is dead.”
“Nay, holy sir,” said Hugh, keeping his head down, “but I promised.”
“Nevertheless—” began the chaplain, when the knight interrupted.
“Prithee no more, father; a promise is a sacred thing, and the urchin is in the right. Keep covenant is ever the king’s word. What was thy promise, boy?”
“That I would learn the craft, and he hoped that in time I might work there,” pointing to the Cathedral. “But William Franklyn says I never shall.” ”

“ Hadst thou been set upon it, Hugh, I had not withstood thee, but I should have grieved. No blessing comes from self-seeking. And hast thou,” he added more cheerily, “hast thou forgotten the corbels thou hast to do for the bishop?”
His words put fresh heart into the boy, and he felt that even had he followed his own longings it would have cost him much to leave Master Gervase. Then Joan ran in, warmly and daintily dressed, gathering up her little skirts to show Hugh her new long pointed shoes, all her tears forgotten, and her mind running upon the king and his knights. ”

“ Hugh’s encounter has put into my mind the thought that we might go to Dartmouth by ship.”
“The saints forbid!” said the friar, rapidly crossing himself. “You must be mad to think of it, Master Bassett.”
“Nay, but why?”
“The dangers, the discomforts!—shoals, rocks, pirates!”
“Dangers there are in all journeys. The discomforts will no doubt be great, but put on the other side the fatigue you warn me against.”
“You should not go at all,” said Friar Luke. “Remain here where you can be cared for. Hugh shall be a serving-boy, and take the habit when he is old enough.” ”

“ That he had got on in his craft and satisfied his master Hugh was aware, and now before him opened such an honourable task as a lad of his age could not have hoped for; what Stephen had longed for was about to come to pass, and Hugh knew that it was possible for him to bring fame and honour to his father’s name.
With such thoughts, too, necessarily was joined very deep gratitude to Master Gervase. He had never faltered in his kindness; had Hugh been his own son he could not have trained him more carefully, or taught him more freely, with no grudging thoughts of possible rivalship. ”

“ He paused.
“What?” asked Hugh.
“Who thou wilt fight?”
“Who? Mine enemies,” said Hugh, lifting his head.
“If you know them.”
“I shall know them, because they will try to do me a mischief. Jakes—he is an enemy,” fiercely.
“Thou hast worse than Jakes, my poor little lad,” Stephen said, tenderly, “and nearer at hand. Thine own passions will truly do thee a mischief, except thou keep them under. There’s fighting ground for thee. And, see here, I have long meant to say something to thee about King Edward, only I have an ill-trick of putting off. ”

“ But nothing would draw him from the corbel.
“I marvel at the lad,” said John Hamlyn one day to his fellow-warden; “he seems to care little for the over-praise he gets. ’Twould turn my Ralph’s head.”
“His father’s training has borne fruit,” answered Elyas. “Hugh gave up his own fancies, and held by what he had learnt to be duty; now he yet thinks of the duty, and not of the glory to himself. He is as good to me as any son could be.” ”

“ Will Roger Succeed? Hugh’s first feeling was one of bitter and intense disappointment. He cared not one jot about the position of the corbel, what he did care for was the working out his own design, seeing that, as it were, spring into life under his hand. It was a very different thing to carry out another man’s, for, however good the execution might be, that could not equal the joy of creation. ”

“ His father sat by him, and in the cave a fire of brushwood had been lit, close to which crouched Agrippa, munching black rye bread soaked in sea water, and jabbering with satisfaction.
“Father,” said the boy, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, “are we safe?”
“Saved by a miracle, my little lad.”
“But Jakes—his face—what was it!”
“He was drowned,” said Bassett, gravely; “he never got to land with the others. Eat some of this bread; I had it in my pocket.”
“Is anyone else drowned?” asked Hugh, shuddering. ”

“ Hugh himself was not without thoughts on the subject. The sight of the king, the half smile with which he had been recognised, had stirred up his old desires into ardent longing. Once again nothing in the world seemed so grand as to have the power of fighting, and, if needs were, dying for him. The grave earnest face, saddened by troubles which would have overwhelmed a weaker soul, fired the boy’s enthusiasm, where others complained of want of geniality. ”

“ Then, in spite of his awkwardnesses and a dense stupidity about his work, Wat was a good-natured companion, ready to take any trouble and to carry any blame. He had been so often told by Franklyn that he would never rise to more than a mason, that he had grown to accept the verdict against which Hugh was always trying to make him rebel.
“He knows best,” he would say, hammering loosely at the stone.
“What an oaf thou art, Wat! It all rests with thyself. Franklyn should never make me a mason.” ”

“ It was not long before the bear appeared, led by two men.
“Father, father!” cried Hugh, in a tumult of excitement.
“Speak the word, master, when thou desirest an appeal to my quarterstaff,” put in Dick-o’-the-Hill, “or even give me a nod, and I’ll warrant I’ll not be backward. I’ll answer for the bear.”
“Ay, I verily believe thy head to be as thick as its own,” said Matthew. “When wilt thou learn that brains are better than fists? Peace, and keep back.” ”

“ Once or twice Hugh told him of changes he had made in the design—told him with some doubt lest it should displease him that his apprentice should dream of bettering his work. But Gervase was of a rarely generous nature, frankly acknowledging the improvement.
“I would I could get to see it; thou art right, thou art right, Hugh, that change takes off a certain stiffness. Do what thou wilt, I trust thee ungrudgingly, in spite of precentor or any of them. And they will have to own that we are in the right when they see it finished. Now, art ready for our game at chess?” ”

“ A fine dowry will come to Joan, when her father spends his all upon strangers! And yet he makes me cry shame upon myself for close-fistedness, and wonder at the sweetness with which he bears my sourness. If he will, he shall have the boy as prentice, I’ll e’en put up with the monkey; but, do what I will, it is certain I shall season any kindness with sharp words, and Elyas will feel that all the while I am grudging. ”

“ Edward pulled up, and two or three of the men-at-arms, hastily parting the crowd, disclosed Joan clinging to Hugh, uttering woeful cries and prayers to be taken home. One of them would have raised her in his arms, but this was fresh terror, and whispering to Hugh, “Bring her thyself,” he pushed them gently along towards the royal party.
“Is the child hurt?” asked Edward hastily, and then recognising Hugh, who was red with shame at his own plight, and to have Joan hanging round his neck, the king smiled, and beckoned to him. ”

“ Thou hast thy hands burned so thou canst not work, and had to sit up like the master himself—poor Wat! I was sorry for thee!”
“It was not so bad,” said Wat, meditatively. “When thou art a grown man, thou wilt not care so much for all that foolish boy’s play. I shall have no more of it.”
Hugh burst into a laugh, as he shaped the graceful curve of a vine tendril.
“What has come to thee? Who was mad yesterday at having to play Master Sobersides?”
“I shall play the fool no more, I tell thee. What age, think you, might Mistress Thomasin be?”
“Nay, I scarce looked at her.” ”

“ Have no fear. The bishop and I are strong enough to carry the matter; beshrew me, am I not the one to judge who is the best workman?”
“I may get the block ready for you, sir?” said Hugh eagerly.
“That may’st thou not, for I have already spoken to Ned Parsons, and he is there at this moment. Why, thou silly lad, disappointed? Thinkest thou that seeing thee set to do the rough labour will dispose them to choose thee for the better? Nay, nay, leave it to me, and do thou perfect thy design, remembering that it is a great and holy work to which thou art admitted. ”

“ Master Gervase grew somewhat red and shamefaced when his wife reminded him that he had often been the pitcher-bearer on his father’s farm.
“It was there I first saw thee,” she said, “and my mother pointed thee out, and said thou wast as strong as Edulf.”
“Who was Edulf?” asked Hugh of Wat, under his breath.
“The strongest man that ever lived. He came to Exeter in a rage, and broke the iron gate with his two hands,” expounded Wat, stuffing a large piece of pasty into his mouth.
“The strongest man that ever lived was Samson,” said Hugh, dogmatically. ”

“ Roger was the best pleased of all, for, since Hugh could no longer use his own design, it was pretty sure that no one would interfere with him. He was a first-rate workman, only wanting in imagination and invention; he had no fear but that now he had provided himself with the design, his corbel would hold its own with, perhaps surpass, all others. He even managed to smooth certain ruffles in his conscience by assuring it that since Hugh could not have undertaken any independent labour, no harm was done to him ”

“ Dost thou think King Edward takes little varlets of eleven years old to make his army? Besides—speak not of it, Hugh. My heart is set upon thy carrying on my work. Life has not been sweet for me, and ’tis likely to be short; let me see some fruit before I die.”
The boy flung his arms round Bassett’s neck.
“Father, talk not like that! I will be what thou wilt!” ”