Aylesford

“ It’s a capital plan, most capital,” said Aylesford, gleefully. “You have a genius for scheming, Arrison. I’ll do my part, and engage that, to-morrow, Kate shall ride out alone. Let me see. She’ll take the road through the cedar-swamp, towards Herman’s. I think I can manage that. You know the way, don’t you. Be there early. If, by any accident, she fails you to-morrow, then be there every day till she passes.”
“I’ll wait near the spring,” said Arrison, rising, as he perceived Aylesford prepare to go. ”

“ Every word seems to anger you to-day. We’ve often spoke of women—well, well,” he continued, observing Aylesford’s quick frown, “enough of that. I only seek your good. I’ll say nothing more about the lady, except to tell you my original plan, and to swear by all that’s good, that I never thought to insult you or her.”
Had Aylesford been less accustomed to his present associate, or even perhaps had he been less eager to secure Arrison’s co-operation, he would have broken off the interview. But he allowed himself again to be soothed, and, replacing his sword, took his seat. ”

“ During the whole of this period, Aylesford, who officiated as coxswain, had not ceased to stimulate his men to row faster, alternating promises of reward and urgent appeals, with passionate ejaculations against the poltroonery and treachery of Arrison.
“Pull, pull with a will,” he cried. “We’ll catch them yet, huzza! The double-dyed traitor. Yes!” he added, between his teeth, “he has intended it all along. I see it now, dupe that I am. Curses on my mad folly in trusting him! Why do you stop?” ”

“ She shook her head sadly, but firmly.
“Then it’s no use deceiving me,” was the angry answer, as he flung off the hand which he had taken.
“You love this low fellow, this cowardly traitor—”
“Stop,” said Kate, with an air of command, her person seeming actually to dilate before her companion’s eyes. “I will not hear a gentleman maligned to whom we all owe so much. Nay!” she continued, almost sternly, as Aylesford attempted to speak, “I will be heard, and once for all. You forget yourself, and trespass on even the privileges of a relation, when you charge me with loving Major Gordon. ”

“ The sweet influences of the hour, combined with his late sleep, made Major Gordon heartily ashamed of his angry mood of yesterday. “What if Mr. Aylesford is preferred to me,” he said. “Is that a reason why I should seek his blood? It is nobler to forgive than to resent.”
In this mood he prepared to attend church. It was the first Sunday that services had been held since his arrival at the Forks; for, at that time, Sweetwater had no regular minister, but was compelled to rely on chance itinerants. ”

“ Major Gordon lingered behind, not wishing to be jostled in the crowd, so that, when he reached the doorway, the Aylesfords were just driving off with the preacher, whom they were entertaining as was the patriarchal custom of Sweetwater. He remained a few moments, watching the congregation disperse. Here a good dame was climbing into a rude vehicle, there a small farmer was untying his plough-horse from a tree; here a group of damsels were glancing aside at the young men, and there the young men were sheepishly returning the glances. ”

“ But I meant no offence,” answered Arrison.
“I believe you” replied Aylesford. “But, apart from every other consideration, my cousin is not the girl to be won in that fashion. She would, I am convinced, kill herself sooner than yield; and even if she was prevented, by force, from injuring herself, she’d hate me to her dying day. No, it would be madness.”
“I think you’re mistaken,” answered Arrison. “I know women better than you do, if you have such notions of them. Their bark is worse than their bite. ”

“ AYLESFORD, a village of England, in the county of Kent, 3| miles from Maidstone, and 32 from London. It stands at the base of a hill on the right bank of the Medway, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of six arches. The church stands on an eminence behind the village. At a short distance to the W. was a Carmelite friary, founded in 1240, the remains of which now form a part of the family mansion of the earl of Aylesford. ”

“ To a spectator he seems continually to be dropping threads without necessity, and as often taking up new ones which are uncalled for; but it must be remembered that he has the completed picture before him, and that he knows best what is necessary to do.
Aylesford, whom we last saw parting with Kate, reached the lower part of the river in safety, about noon; and proceeded immediately to procure the assistants, necessary to carry out his plot against Kate. He was not able, indeed, to gain the British camp, and had therefore, to hire a boat’s crew at random. ”

“ It must succeed. Come, cheer up, sir. Faint heart never won fair lady. Gad, I’m bound to have it succeed, if only to make me a gentleman again; a thing I was born for, but missed by my cursed stupidity.”
“You’ve often hinted at that,” said Aylesford, “and it’s easy to see you’ve had a good education. How did you ever come to seek your fortune as an ostler in the colonies?”
“Some other time, maybe, I’ll tell you,” answered Arrison, his gayety giving way to gloom. “It’s enough for to-day, that I became an ostler because I knew more about horses than anything else.” ”

“ At each cry a man went down, and while Denzil the priest stood at his back and fought those who would have smitten him behind, Bertram D'Aylesford raged through the Mayford Hall and drove before him the Grey Wolf riders. The archer stood in the doorway, an arrow ready on the string; but he shot twice only at those who sought to run. And at last only Gaston de la Tour was left, fighting desperately a losing fight. ”

“ Warren, confusedly. “Oh! I see it all now. Why did I not do it before? But I never suspected such a thing. A rebel too, and worse, a rebel officer! We’re disgraced forever. What would Cousin Danville say? What will the King say when he hears of it?”
“Well, if this isn’t a precious partner I’ve got,” said Aylesford to himself, “to help me in my difficulty. I might as well have a crazy person.” But after a turn about the room, seeing that the handkerchief was still at her eyes, he said— “I’m not finding fault, aunt. But why the deuce,” he cried “didn’t you say that Arab was too wild for Kate?” ”

“ Aylesford down to Sweetwater.”
“Most likely. Though there may be something else afloat, as other sarcumstances make me suspect. He’s a tory at heart, I’m sartain. He was always high, and thought nobody good enough for him, talking of his cousin, Lord somebody, just as Mrs. Warren does,” and he laughed that low chuckling laugh, which was all his mirth ever rose to. “Such a man, Major, is naturally a tory; and tories are always on the watch, with their cunning ready, for this youngster’s as cunning as a fox ”

“ The reason was, that never, perhaps, were two combatants more equally matched. Aylesford was really superior in skill, but Major Gordon was more cool; the first was ready to take every advantage, the latter fought only to disarm his adversary. ”

“ But the best laid plans of villains, as Burns says of mice and men, “aft gang agee.” We have seen how Arrison’s scheme to deliver Kate, by collusion, into the hands of Aylesford, had miscarried: and this failure necessarily involved the disappointment of the plans of Aylesford also. The boat of the latter was actually in sight of the refugees, when Arrison turned and fled up the river, though no one of the outlaws, nor even Kate, saw it, all having their attention concentrated on the patriots on shore, and subsequently on the pursuing craft. ”

“ Beauty is oftener the result of fresh air and exercise than of cosmetics.
Three years after her arrival in England, Mr. Aylesford died, leaving Kate one of the richest heiresses in the colonies. In part, her property consisted of houses and stores in the city of Philadelphia, and in part of vast tracts of land in the middle counties of West Jersey. The war between the colonies and mother country soon after broke out, and, for a while, it seemed as if the heiress was destined never to see her native land again. ”

“ That’ll be an ace to play on this Major Gordon’s king, and a trump card at that.”
Aylesford’s countenance brightened, the look of suspicion disappearing totally.
“I am dull,” he said. “This infernal affair has driven me half mad, I believe, and benumbed my senses.”
“Of course,” answered Arrison, “it won’t do to rescue her right away. For then, you know, you’d have no good excuse for carrying her within the royal lines, a step which must be taken if you wish to get her to New York. Though, for my part,” added the outlaw, “I don’t see why you should trouble yourself to make so long a journey. ”

“ Aylesford and lady to ride together; for, during this conversation, the speakers had set off slowly towards Sweetwater.
“What a fool I would have made of myself,” soliloquized Major Gordon, angrily, “if I had told her, five minutes ago, I loved her, as I was tempted to do. She is evidently plighted to this cousin, for in no other way can his cool assumption of authority over her be explained; and she has been only amusing herself with me; her look I misinterpreted, or, which is probably truer, she is the most arrant of coquettes.” An angry lover is rarely just or logical. ”

“ When the war broke out, and the time came, before Washington re-crossed the Delaware, that ‘most everybody feared the king was going to win, who should come down here but Arrison, and as Katie’s father was now dead, Master Charles was living at the big house, and took Arrison into his employment at once. There was deviltry enough went on, in a few weeks then, to ruin the souls of a hundred men. However, before long, the tables turned, and this young Mr. Aylesford, who, as I’ve said, is as cunning as he is hot tempered, began to be afeerd for himself, if he allowed such a tory to live with him. ”

“ Aylesford nodded approvingly, as Arrison paused for an opinion, on which the latter proceeded.
“It will be easy for you to get together a half dozen stout fellows, followers of the royal forces, with which you’ll put yourself in communication at once. I’ll time my arrival so as to reach your neighborhood about dusk. You’ll know my boat by seeing me in the stern sheets. You must shoot out from under the bank of the meadow, where you’ve been hid, and, with a cheer, dash right on us. We’ll have our cue, and pretend to be taken by surprise. ”

“ Captain Powell looked perplexed. But Uncle Lawrence spoke up.
“No,” said he, addressing Captain Powell, “I am an old man, and my time is nearly out, while the Major is young, and can yet be of service to his country.”
“But the young lady, consider her, sir,” urged Captain Powell, speaking to Major Gordon. “Time is precious, and succor ought to be sent at once. For God’s sake, Major, don’t stand on scruples, which would honor you at another time, but are only periling Miss Aylesford’s life at this crisis.” ”

“ But there were men of idle habits and royalist sympathies to be found, all through the war of independence, in every district of New Jersey, but particularly in those bordering on the sea-coast, where many circumstances contributed to render patriotism at a discount and open the field for venal services to either side. Aylesford, by his course of life, had become cognizant of one of these persons, to whom he now applied. This man was acquainted with others; and so, after only a few hours’ delay, he was enabled to set out to meet Arrison. ”

“ But I’ll come down handsomely, lads” he added, seeing signs of discontent. “I was a fool ever to think of carrying her off for Aylesford. In my country, many’s the rich heiress that’s married in this way by gentlemen; and gad! as I too was born a gentleman, I mean to do the same.”
“The captain’s a broth of a boy,” interrupted the Milesian. “I’ll help to do the thing nately, and play praist if he says it.”
“You’ll find her a restive filly, though,” laughed the lieutenant, brutally, “if she is often like she was in the boat.”
“I know a way to tame her,” was Arrison’s reply. ”

“ FINCH, HENEAGE, first Earl of Aylesford (1647?–1719) , second son of Heneage Finch, first earl of Nottingham [q. v.] , was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He left the university without a degree, and entering the legal profession was admitted a barrister of the Inner Temple. His name soon became known as the author of various reports of celebrated trials and other legal tracts; he was appointed king's counsel 10 July 1677, and solicitor-general in 1679, entering parliament as member for the university of Oxford in the same year. ”

“ To do him justice, Aylesford loved her with all the passion of his illy regulated nature, and when he heard this reply, and saw Kate’s emotion, what was good in him awoke responsive to it. He fell upon his knee, by a sudden impulse, and seizing her hand, said—
“Then why won’t you believe still more, dear Kate? Why won’t you believe that I am the most sincere and devoted lover ever woman had? That I have been taught, from my youth up, to look upon you as my future wife? ”

“ In fact, she turned Arab’s head immediately homeward, as if obedience to the mandate so surlily delivered was a matter of course.
“Who can the fellow be?” said Major Gordon to himself.
But his curiosity was not destined to annoy him. Kate directly remembered that the gentlemen were strangers to each other, and proceeded to introduce them.
“Cousin, this is Major Gordon,” she said, turning to the new comer. “Major Gordon,” she said, turning to the latter, “my cousin Charles;” then correcting herself, she added, “Mr. Aylesford.” ”