Page 340 - A Jacobite Exile

"We were talking of you but now, Charlie," Mrs. Dormay said. "Ciceley
and I agreed that we would remove at once to our old place, and that this

should be kept up for you, should you at any time be able to return. Now
that Queen Anne is on the throne, and the Tories are in power, we hoped

that you, at least, would ere long be permitted to return. How is your dear
father?"

"He is well, cousin, and will, I trust, be here ere long. Our innocence of the
charge has been proved, the proceedings against us quashed, and the Act of

Confiscation against my father, Mr. Jervoise, and the others reversed."

"Thank God for that," Mrs. Dormay said earnestly, and Ciceley gave an

exclamation of pleasure. "That accounts, then, for what has happened here.

"I do not want to talk about it, Charlie. You may imagine how Ciceley and I
have suffered. But he was my husband, spare him for my sake."

"I will never allude to the subject again, cousin," Charlie said. "But I must
tell you that Harry and I have posted down from London, in hopes of being

in time to warn him, and enable him to escape. I need not say we did so
because he was your husband, and Ciceley's father."

Harry then turned the subject, by a remark as to the effects of the storm.
Then Ciceley asked questions as to their life abroad, and there was so much

to tell, and to listen to, that even Mrs. Dormay's face brightened. Harry
willingly allowed himself to be persuaded to remain for the night, and to
ride over to his place in the morning.

The funeral took place two days later. Charlie went as sole mourner.

"He was my kinsman," he said to Harry, "and, though I can pretend no
sorrow at his death, my attendance at the funeral will do something towards

stopping talk, and will make it easier for my cousin."

The next day, Mrs. Dormay and Ciceley returned to Rockley, whose tenant
had fortunately left a few weeks before. Charlie and Harry both went over