The Lancashire Witches (Historical Novel). William Harrison Ainsworth
you his lovely dame, and you the tender and cherished olive branches growing round about their tables, I hereby crave your gracious permission to present unto your honours our chosen Queen of May.”
Somewhat fluttered by the presentation, Alizon yet maintained sufficient composure to bend gracefully before Lady Assheton, and say in a very sweet voice, “I fear your ladyship will think the choice of the village hath fallen ill in alighting upon me; and, indeed, I feel myself altogether unworthy the distinction; nevertheless I will endeavour to discharge my office fittingly, and therefore pray you, fair lady, and the worshipful knight, your husband, together with your beauteous children, and the gentles all by whom you are surrounded, to grace our little festival with your presence, hoping you may find as much pleasure in the sight as we shall do in offering it to you.”
“A fair maid, and modest as she is fair,” observed Sir Ralph, with a condescending smile.
“In sooth is she,” replied Lady Assheton, raising her kindly, and saying, as she did so—
“Nay, you must not kneel to us, sweet maid. You are queen of May, and it is for us to show respect to you during your day of sovereignty. Your wishes are commands; and, in behalf of my husband, my children, and our guests, I answer, that we will gladly attend your revels on the green.”
“Well said, dear Nell,” observed Sir Ralph. “We should be churlish, indeed, were we to refuse the bidding of so lovely a queen.”
“Nay, you have called the roses in earnest to her cheek, now, Sir Ralph,” observed Lady Assheton, smiling. “Lead on, fair queen,” she continued, “and tell your companions to begin their sports when they please.—Only remember this, that we shall hope to see all your gay troop this evening at the Abbey, to a merry dance.”
“Where I will strive to find her majesty a suitable partner,” added Sir Ralph. “Stay, she shall make her choice now, as a royal personage should; for you know, Nell, a queen ever chooseth her partner, whether it be for the throne or for the brawl. How gay you, fair one? Shall it be either of our young cousins, Joe or Will Robinson of Raydale; or our cousin who still thinketh himself young, Squire Nicholas of Downham.”
“Ay, let it be me, I implore of you, fair queen,” interposed Nicholas.
“He is engaged already,” observed Richard Assheton, coming forward. “I heard him ask pretty Mistress Tetlow, the farmer’s wife, to dance with him this evening at the Abbey.”
A loud laugh from those around followed this piece of information, but Nicholas was in no wise disconcerted.
“Dick would have her choose him, and that is why he interferes with me,” he observed. “How say you, fair queen! Shall it be our hopeful cousin? I will answer for him that he danceth the coranto and lavolta indifferently well.”
On hearing Richard Assheton’s voice, all the colour had forsaken Alizon’s cheeks; but at this direct appeal to her by Nicholas, it returned with additional force, and the change did not escape the quick eye of Lady Assheton.
“You perplex her, cousin Nicholas,” she said.
“Not a whit, Eleanor,” answered the squire; “but if she like not Dick Assheton, there is another Dick, Dick Sherburne of Sladeburn; or our cousin, Jack Braddyll; or, if she prefer an older and discreeter man, there is Father Greenacres of Worston, or Master Roger Nowell of Read—plenty of choice.”
“Nay, if I must choose a partner, it shall be a young one,” said Alizon.
“Right, fair queen, right,” cried Nicholas, laughing. “Ever choose a young man if you can. Who shall it be?”
“You have named him yourself, sir,” replied Alizon, in a voice which she endeavoured to keep firm, but which, in spite of all her efforts, sounded tremulously—“Master Richard Assheton.”
“Next to choosing me, you could not have chosen better,” observed Nicholas, approvingly. “Dick, lad, I congratulate thee.”
“I congratulate myself,” replied the young man. “Fair queen,” he added, advancing, “highly flattered am I by your choice, and shall so demean myself, I trust, as to prove myself worthy of it. Before I go, I would beg a boon from you—that flower.”
“This pink,” cried Alizon. “It is yours, fair sir.”
Young Assheton took the flower and took the hand that offered it at the same time, and pressed the latter to his lips; while Lady Assheton, who had been made a little uneasy by Alizon’s apparent emotion, and who with true feminine tact immediately detected its cause, called out: “Now, forward—forward to the May-pole! We have interrupted the revel too long.”
Upon this the May Queen stepped blushingly back with the usher, who, with his white wand in hand, had stood bolt upright behind her, immensely delighted with the scene in which his pupil—for Alizon had been tutored by him for the occasion—had taken part. Sir Ralph then clapped his hands loudly, and at this signal the tabor and pipe struck up; the Fool and the Hobby-horse, who, though idle all the time, had indulged in a little quiet fun with the rustics, recommenced their gambols; the Morris-dancers their lively dance; and the whole train moved towards the May-pole, followed by the rush-cart, with all its bells jingling, and all its garlands waving.
As to Alizon, her brain was in a whirl, and her bosom heaved so quickly, that she thought she should faint. To think that the choice of a partner in the dance at the Abbey had been offered her, and that she should venture to choose Master Richard Assheton! She could scarcely credit her own temerity. And then to think that she should give him a flower, and, more than all, that he should kiss her hand in return for it! She felt the tingling pressure of his lips upon her finger still, and her little heart palpitated strangely.
As she approached the May-pole, and the troop again halted for a few minutes, she saw her brother James holding little Jennet by the hand, standing in the front line to look at her.
“Oh, how I’m glad to see you here, Jennet!” she cried.
“An ey’m glad to see yo, Alizon,” replied the little girl. “Jem has towd me whot a grand partner you’re to ha’ this e’en.” And, she added, with playful malice, “Who was wrong whon she said the queen could choose Master Richard—”
“Hush, Jennet, not a word more,” interrupted Alizon, blushing.
“Oh! ey dunna mean to vex ye, ey’m sure,” replied Jennet. “Ey’ve got a present for ye.”
“A present for me, Jennet,” cried Alizon; “what is it?”
“A beautiful white dove,” replied the little girl.
“A white dove! Where did you get it? Let me see it,” cried Alizon, in a breath.
“Here it is,” replied Jennet, opening her kirtle.
“A beautiful bird, indeed,” cried Alizon. “Take care of it for me till I come home.”
“Which winna be till late, ey fancy,” rejoined Jennet, roguishly. “Ah!” she added, uttering a cry.
The latter exclamation was occasioned by the sudden flight of the dove, which, escaping from her hold, soared aloft. Jennet followed the course of its silver wings, as they cleaved the blue sky, and then all at once saw a large hawk, which apparently had been hovering about, swoop down upon it, and bear it off. Some white feathers fell down near the little girl, and she picked up one of them and put it in her breast.
“Poor bird!” exclaimed the May Queen.
“Eigh, poor bird!” echoed Jennet, tearfully. “Ah, ye dunna knoa aw, Alizon.”
“Weel, there’s neaw use whimpering abowt a duv,” observed Jem, gruffly. “Ey’n bring ye another t’ furst time ey go to Cown.”
“There’s nah another bird like that,” sobbed the little girl. “Shoot that cruel hawk fo’ me, Jem, win ye.”
“How conney wench, whon its flown away?” he replied.