"Gashford!" cried Lord George, pressing his secretary"s arm tightwithin his own, and speaking with as much emotion in his voice, asin his altered face, "I arn called indeed, now. I feel and knowit. I am the leader of a host. If they summoned me at this momentwith one voice to lead them on to death, I"d do it--Yes, and fallfirst myself!"
"It is a proud sight," said the secretary. "It is a noble day forEngland, and for the great cause throughout the world. Suchhomage, my lord, as I, an humble but devoted man, can render--"
"What are you doing?" cried his master, catching him by both hands;for he had made a show of kneeling at his feet. "Do not unfit me,dear Gashford, for the solemn duty of this glorious day--" thetears stood in the eyes of the poor gentleman as he said thewords.--"Let us go among them; we have to find a place in somedivision for this new recruit--give me your hand."
Gashford slid his cold insidious palm into his master"s grasp, andso, hand in hand, and followed still by Barnaby and by his mothertoo, they mingled with the concourse.
They had by this time taken to their singing again, and as theirleader passed between their ranks, they raised their voices totheir utmost. Many of those who were banded together to supportthe religion of their country, even unto death, had never heard ahymn or psalm in all their lives. But these fellows having for themost part strong lungs, and being naturally fond of singing,chanted any ribaldry or nonsense that occurred to them, feelingpretty certain that it would not be detected in the general chorus,and not caring much if it were. Many of these voluntaries weresung under the very nose of Lord George Gordon, who, quiteunconscious of their burden, passed on with his usual stiff andsolemn deportment, very much edified and delighted by the piousconduct of his followers.
So they went on and on, up this line, down that, round the exteriorof this circle, and on every side of that hollow square; and stillthere were lines, and squares, and circles out of number to review.
The day being now intensely hot, and the sun striking down his fiercest rays upon the field, those who carried heavy banners beganto grow faint and weary; most of the number assembled were fain topull off their neckcloths, and throw their coats and waistcoatsopen; and some, towards the centre, quite overpowered by theexcessive heat, which was of course rendered more unendurable bythe multitude around them, lay down upon the grass, and offered allthey had about them for a drink of water. Still, no man left theground, not even of those who were so distressed; still LordGeorge, streaming from every pore, went on with Gashford; and stillBarnaby and his mother followed close behind them.
They had arrived at the top of a long line of some eight hundredmen in single file, and Lord George had turned his head to lookback, when a loud cry of recognition--in that peculiar and half-stifled tone which a voice has, when it is raised in the open airand in the midst of a great concourse of persons--was heard, and aman stepped with a shout of laughter from the rank, and smoteBarnaby on the shoulders with his heavy hand.
"How now!" he cried. "Barnaby Rudge! Why, where have you beenhiding for these hundred years?"
Barnaby had been thinking within himself that the smell of the trodden grass brought back his old days at cricket, when he was ayoung boy and played on Chigwell Green. Confused by this suddenand boisterous address, he stared in a bewildered manner at theman, and could scarcely say "What! Hugh!"
"Hugh!" echoed the other; "ay, Hugh--Maypole Hugh! You remember mydog? He"s alive now, and will know you, I warrant. What, you wearthe colour, do you? Well done! Ha ha ha!"
"You know this young man, I see," said Lord George.
"Know him, my lord! as well as I know my own right hand. Mycaptain knows him. We all know him."
"Will you take him into your division?"
"It hasn"t in it a better, nor a nimbler, nor a more active man,than Barnaby Rudge," said Hugh. "Show me the man who says it has!
Fall in, Barnaby. He shall march, my lord, between me and Dennis;and he shall carry," he added, taking a flag from the hand of atired man who tendered it, "the gayest silken streamer in thisvaliant army."
"In the name of God, no!" shrieked the widow, darting forward.
"Barnaby--my lord--see--he"ll come back--Barnaby--Barnaby!"
"Women in the field!" cried Hugh, stepping between them, andholding her off. "Holloa! My captain there!"
"What"s the matter here?" cried Simon Tappertit, bustling up in agreat heat. "Do you call this order?"
"Nothing like it, captain," answered Hugh, still holding her backwith his outstretched hand. "It"s against all orders. Ladies arecarrying off our gallant soldiers from their duty. The word ofcommand, captain! They"re filing off the ground. Quick!"
"Close!" cried Simon, with the whole power of his lungs. "Form!
March!"
She was thrown to the ground; the whole field was in motion;Barnaby was whirled away into the heart of a dense mass of men, andshe saw him no more.