LESSON 51 WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER

I

Heaven help him: he is his father's son. This is what old Lord John Illingworth said of little Basil on the night when he saw him first.

It was in the time of our history known as the "Commonwealth" that Basil Harrington lived. King Charlesthe First not so long ago had been beheaded, and Oliver Cromwell, in the name of the people, ruled over our land.

Much fighting had taken place before these changes came about. Some held that all the troubles of their country arose through the misrule of kings. It was this party which had driven Charles the First from the throne, and raised Oliver Cromwell to be Lord Protector in his stead.

A CAVALIER.

Cromwell's followers were called Puritans or Round-heads, because they believed in plain clothes and simple modes of worship, and cropped their hair very closely.

But there remained a number of people to whom the memory of King Charles was dear, and who were eager to set his exiled [1] son upon the throne. These belonged mostly to the upper classes. They were known as Royalists or Cavaliers; and they still kept up their old gay style of dress and manner of living.

A Cavalier wore his hair in long love-locks or curls. He had beautiful clothes of velvet and satin, broad collars and ruffles of lace, and sparkling buckles on his shoes; whilst his wife and children were dressed with equal taste and splendour.

Basil Harrington was the son of one of these Cavaliers. His father, Sir Ralph Harrington, had fought side by side with Lord John and many another high-born soldier in the battles of Edgehill and Naseby. He had stood in bitter anger amid the crowd at Whitehall and seen his king led forth to the scaffold, and since then he had given his aid to every plot that could be hatched for the downfall of the Commonwealth, and the placing of Prince Charles upon the throne of his father.

No wonder his wife, Lady Harrington, trembled for his safety. Their home, Coombe Manor, had become the head-quarters of the plotters, and day and night she lived in dread of their being surprised by Cromwell's men.

For the Lord Protector was a watchful man, and well aware that all Englishmen were not his friends. He had made it lawful for bodies of his soldiers to enter the house of anyone who was thought to be plotting, and to ask any questions they liked. These Roundhead spies galloped to and fro over the country, and every hour Lady Harrington saw them, in fancy, come riding to her door.

It was this that made her sleep so broken, and gave to her dark eyes a listening, anxious look, in spite of the fact that she talked and sang and dressed more charmingly than ever. As for Sir Ralph, he laughed at her fears, and went on plotting as before.

One evening there was a larger gathering than usual at Coombe Manor. A secret message was to be sent to the absent Prince, and lots must be drawn as to who should perform this dangerous task.

Old Lord John Illingworth had for the first time joined their counsels, and his presence there was most welcome, for he was known as a wise and prudent [2] man.

Though Lord John hated the Commonwealth as fiercely as any, yet he understood better how great and powerful was their foe; and he doubted more than his reckless host if they were able to overcome Cromwell.

Perhaps this was why he felt pity and anxiety for Harrington's small son. In velvet tunic and sash, the boy had rushed in among the guests; and then and there his father bade him hold up his right hand and cry, "Down with the Commonwealth! Long live our exiled King!"

Nothing loath [3] , Basil did as he was told. Standing very erect and throwing back his golden head, he repeated the words. And it was then that Lord John prayed half to himself and half aloud, "Heaven help him; he is his father's son!"

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[1] exiled: Banished, sent out of a country.

[2] prudent: Careful.

[3] loath: Unwilling.