Page 342 - A Jacobite Exile

"I think so, too," Harry said. "I know that the colonel told the king the
whole story, when he asked for leave for me and obtained that paper. He

told my father that the king was greatly interested, and said: 'I hope the
young fellows will succeed, though I suppose, if they do, I shall lose two

promising young officers.' So he will not be surprised when he hears that
we have resigned.

"As for me, I shall, of course, go on at once. My father will, I am sure, be
delighted to return home. The hardships have told upon him a good deal,

and he has said several times, of late, how much he wished he could see his
way to retiring. I think, too, he will gladly consent to my entering our own
service, instead of that of Sweden. He would not have done so, I am sure,

had William been still on the throne. Now it is altogether different."

"Well, Harry, if you do see the king, as it is possible you may do, or if you
do not, you might speak to the colonel, and ask him, in my name, to express
to Charles my regret at leaving his service, in which I have been so well

treated, and say how much I feel the kindly interest that his majesty has
been pleased to take in me. If there had been any chance of the war coming

to an end shortly, I should have remained to see it out; but, now that the
Polish business may be considered finished, it will be continued with
Russia, and may go on for years, for the czar is just as obstinate and

determined as Charles himself."

Accordingly, the next morning, Charlie sent in the formal resignation of his
commission to the war minister at Stockholm, and Harry left by ship for
Revel. Sir Marmaduke placed his business affairs in the hands of a Scotch

merchant at Gottenburg, with instructions to call in the money he had lent
on mortgage, and, two days later, took passage with Charlie for Hull,

whence they posted across the country to Lancaster, and then drove to
Lynnwood.

As soon as the news spread that Sir Marmaduke had returned, the church
bells rang a joyous peal, bonfires were lighted, the tenants flocked in to

greet him, and the gentry for miles round rode over to welcome and
congratulate him.