第28章

’Toourgoodsubject，JohnRidd，etc。’——describingmeeversomuchbetterthanIknewmyself——’bythesepresents，greeting。Thesearetorequirethee，inthenameofourlordtheKing，toappearinpersonbeforetheRightWorshipful，theJusticesofHisMajesty’sBenchatWestminster，layingasideallthineownbusiness，andtheretodeliversuchevidenceasiswithinthycognisance，touchingcertainmatterswherebythepeaceofoursaidlordtheKing，andthewell-beingofthisrealm，is，are，orotherwisemaybeimpeached，impugned，imperilled，orotherwisedetrimented。Aswitnessthesepresents。’Andthentherewerefourseals，andthenasignatureIcouldnotmakeout，onlythatitbeganwithaJ，andendedwithsomeotherwriting，donealmostinacircle。Underneathwasaddedinadifferenthandwriting’Chargeswillbeborne。Thematterisfullurgent。’

Themessengerwatchedme，whileIreadsomuchasI

couldreadofit；andheseemedwellpleasedwithmysurprise，becausehehadexpectedit。Then，notknowingwhatelsetodo，Ilookedagainatthecover，andonthetopofitIsaw，’Ride，Ride，Ride!OnHisGraciousMajesty’sbusiness；spurandsparenot。’

Itmaybesupposedbyallwhoknowme，thatIwastakenhereuponwithsuchagiddinessinmyheadandnoisinessinmyears，thatIwasforcedtoholdbythecrookdriveninbelowthethatchforholdingofthehay-rakes。Therewasscarcelyanysenseleftinme，onlythatthethingwascomebypowerofMotherMelldrum，becauseIdespisedherwarning，andhadagainsoughtLorna。Buttheofficerwasgrievedforme，andthedangertohissupper。

’Myson，benotafraid，’hesaid；’wearenotgoingtoskinthee。Onlythoutellallthetruth，anditshallbe——butnevermind，Iwilltelltheeallaboutit，andhowtocomeoutharmless，ifIfindthyvictualsgood，andnodelayinservingthem。’

’Wedoourbest，sir，withoutbargain，’saidI，’topleaseourvisitors。’

Butwhenmymothersawthatparchment(forwecouldnotkeepitfromher)shefellawayintoherfavouritebedofstockgilly-flowers，whichshehadbeentending；

andwhenwebroughtherroundagain，didnothingbutexclaimagainstthewickednessoftheageandpeople。

’Itwasuselesstotellher；sheknewwhatitwas，andsoshouldalltheparishknow。TheKinghadheardwhathersonwas，howsober，andquiet，anddiligent，andthestrongestyoungmaninEngland；andbeinghimselfsuchareprobate——Godforgiveherforsayingso——hecouldneverresttillhegotpoorJohnny，andmadehimasdissoluteashimself。Andifhedidthat’——heremotherwentoffintoafitofcrying；andAnniemindedherface，whileLizziesawthathergownwasincomelyorder。

ButthecharacteroftheKingimproved，whenMasterJeremyStickles(beingreallymovedbythelookofit，andnobadmanafterall)laiditclearlybeforemymotherthattheKingonhisthronewasunhappy，untilhehadseenJohnRidd。ThatthefameofJohnhadgonesofar，andhissize，andallhisvirtues——thatverilybytheGodwhomadehim，theKingwasovercomewithit。

Thenmotherlaybackinhergardenchair，andsmileduponthewholeofus，andmostofallonJeremy；

lookingonlyshylyonme，andspeakingthroughsomebreakoftears。’HisMajestyshallhavemyJohn；HisMajestyisverygood：butonlyforafortnight。Iwantnotitlesforhim。Johnnyisenoughforme；andMasterJohnfortheworkingmen。’

NowthoughmymotherwassowillingthatIshouldgotoLondon，expectinggreatpromotionandhighgloryforme，Imyselfwasdeeplygoneintothepitofsorrow。

ForwhatwouldLornathinkofme？Herewasthelongmonthjustexpired，afterworldsofwaiting；therewouldbeherlovelyself，peepingsoftlydowntheglen，andfearingtoencourageme；yettherewouldbenobodyelse，andwhataninsulttoher!Dwellinguponthis，andseeingnochanceofescapefromit，Icouldnotfindonewinkofsleep；thoughJeremyStickles(whosleptcloseby)snoredloudenoughtosparemesome。

ForIfeltmyselftobe，asitwere，inaplaceofsomeimportance；inasituationoftrust，Imaysay；andboundnottodepartfromit。ForwhocouldtellwhattheKingmighthavetosaytomeabouttheDoones——andIfeltthattheywereatthebottomofthisstrangeappearance——orwhatHisMajestymightthink，ifafterreceivingamessagefromhim(trustyundersomanyseals)Iweretoviolatehisfaithinmeasachurchwarden’sson，andfalselyspreadhiswordsabroad？

PerhapsIwasnotwiseinbuildingsuchawallofscruples。Nevertheless，allthatwasthere，andweigheduponmeheavily。AndatlastImadeupmymindtothis，thatevenLornamustnotknowthereasonofmygoing，neitheranythingaboutit；butthatshemightknowIwasgonealongwayfromhome，andperhapsbesorryforit。NowhowwasItoletherknoweventhatmuchofthematter，withoutbreakingcompact？

Puzzlingonthis，Ifellasleep，afterthepropertimetogetup；norwasItobeseenatbreakfasttime；andmother(beingquitestrangetothat)wasveryuneasyaboutit。ButMasterSticklesassuredherthattheKing’swritoftenhadthateffect，andthesymptomwasagoodone。

’Now，MasterStickles，whenmustwestart？’Iaske