"He was crawling through the bushes, Sir Charles," the soldier panted, "watching that gentleman, sir,"--he nodded over his shoulder towards Collier. "I challenged, and he jumped to run, and we collared him. He resisted, Sir Charles."The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than trespassers.
"Well, take him to the barracks, then," he said. "Report to me in the morning. That will do."The prisoner wheeled eagerly, without further show of resistance, and the soldiers closed in on him on either side. But as the three men moved away together, their faces, which had been in shadow, were now turned towards Mr. Collier, who was advancing leisurely, and with silent footsteps, across the grass. He met them face to face, and as he did so the prisoner sprang back and threw out his arms in front of him, with the gesture of a man who entreats silence. Mr. Collier halted as though struck to stone, and the two men confronted each other without moving.
"Good God!" Mr. Collier whispered.
He turned stiffly and slowly, as though in a trance, and beckoned to his wife, who had followed him.
"Alice!" he called. He stepped backwards towards her, and taking her hand in one of his, drew her towards the prisoner. "Here he is!" he said.
They heard her cry "Henry!" with the fierceness of a call for help, and saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of the prisoner, and their two heads were bent close together.
Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly.
"And now," he gasped, in conclusion, "what's to be done? What's he arrested for? Is it bailable? What?""Good heavens!" exclaimed Sir Charles, miserably. "It is my fault entirely. I assure you I had no idea. How could I? But Ishould have known, I should have guessed it." He dismissed the sentries with a gesture. "That will do," he said. "Return to your posts."Mr. Collier laughed with relief.
"Then it is not serious?" he asked.
"He--he had no money, that was all," exclaimed Sir Charles.
"Serious? Certainly not. Upon my word, I'm sorry--"The young man had released himself from his sister's embrace, and was coming towards them; and Sir Charles, eager to redeem himself, advanced hurriedly to greet him. But the young man did not see him; he was looking past him up the steps to where Miss Cameron stood in the shadow.
Sir Charles hesitated and drew back. The young man stopped at the foot of the steps, and stood with his head raised, staring up at the white figure of the girl, who came slowly forward.
It was forced upon Sir Charles that in spite of the fact that the young man before them had but just then been rescued from arrest, that in spite of his mean garments and ragged sandals, something about him--the glamour that surrounds the prodigal, or possibly the moonlight--gave him an air of great dignity and distinction.
