University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.

Notwithstanding the warning of an early
breakfast, the sun was shining high through
the windows of the parlor ere the guests of Gov.
Leet made their appearance.

“Eight o'clock, by Jupiter,” exclaimed Mr.
Kellond, as they entered the room, for though the
breakfast table was spread, it was apparently unoccupied.
“My word for it, Tom, that wily old
rascal means to outwit us.” But his exclamations
were, at that moment, interrupted by the sight of
an unexpected auditress. Miss Weldon was
standing in one of the recesses of the windows;
but, as her figure was partly hid with the drapery
of the curtain, her presence had, at first, been
totally unnoticed.

“Good morning to you, fair damsel,” continued
Mr. Kellond, with an air of undaunted effrontery;
and, approaching the window, he began to address
her in that free and careless manner which
had before been so displeasing. Miss Weldon,
after returning his salutations with a haughty
nod, continued still to gaze from the window.
Directly opposite was the hill from which she had
first seen them, now thronged with all the children
of the vicinity. Miss Weldon was apparently
gazing at their sports, though from time to
time an anxious glance down the road, might

have convinced a careful observer, that some
object of higher interest claimed her attention.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” said the kind
and soft voice of Mrs. Leet, who at this moment
entered the room. “Margaret, my dear, you
should have told me that the gentlemen were
waiting,” and the good lady hastened out again
to order her long delayed-breakfast.

“And where can Mr. Russel be so long, this
morning?” exclaimed Mrs. Leet as the family with
only this exception encircled the table. “Have
you called him, Willy?”

“His door is locked,” replied the servant, “perhaps
he has gone for a walk.” A shadow at that
moment fell upon the wall.

“And here he is,” cried Richard, who was
gazing from the window, while a deep and sudden
flush illumined the features of Miss Weldon.

“You have taken an early walk, sir,” said the
Governor, as the young gentleman with an animated
countenance now entered the apartment,
“but better late than never. Richard,
move your chair for Mr. Russel.” Margaret gazed
earnestly upon her uncle's countenance, but
with all her scrutiny she found it impossible to
discover whether his apparent indifference on this
occasion was real or assumed.

“Allow us again to remind you, sir,” exclaimed
Mr. Kirk, when the repast was nearly completed,
“that it will be necessary for us to set off on our
way immediately after breakfast, and we request
that horsos may be provided for that purpose
according to your promise last evening.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied the old gentleman,

with an emphatic hem. “Margaret, my dear,”
he continued, turning to Miss Weldon, “you were
petitioning yesterday for a ride, and I dare say
Mr. Russel here, with all his love for pedestrian
excursions, would make no objections to a seat in
the sleigh. Well, I have business in town, this
morning, and here are a couple of dainty footed
travelers, ready to faint at the mention of a snow
drift. I believe we must e'en tackle up. Willy,
my man, tell Simon to get out the sleigh.”

“It is unnecessary to put you to this trouble,”
exclaimed Mr. Kirk, for they were now rising
from the breakfast table. “I can assure you,
Governor Leet, we must go on without further
delay. The horses referred to last evening must
surely be refreshed by this time, and we will
excuse the want of the vehicle you mention.”

“Aye, aye—much obliged to you, make yourselves
easy, gentlemen, I am an old man, and
like my own way pretty much;—sit down and
make yourselves easy,” and so saying the governor
quietly walked off to attend to the fulfilment
of his orders. Miss Weldon had left the room
to prepare herself for her ride; and the strangers
finding resistance vain, slowly equipped themselves
for their journey. A loud ringing of sleigh
bells, at the door, presently announced that the
vehicle was in readiness; but the Governor was
not to be hurried, and vain and fruitless were the
significant and angry glances of the strangers,
while he slowly and comfortably prepared to meet
the inclemencies of the weather. At length,
completely muffled from head to foot, the old
gentleman sallied forth, followed by the remainder
of the party. The kind “good morning,” from the
group at the door, mingled with the sound of the

cracking whip; and, with a loud and merry jingle,
the sleigh started forth on its journey. The horses
were fleet, and the road not so bad as they had
been led to fear, so that by the time they had
reached New-Haven green, the clock on the old
meeting house was only pointing the hour of
noon, and its clear tones were yet ringing through
the village, as they drove up to the door of the
parsonage.

“Gentlemen,” said the venerable pastor of
New-Haven, after perusing the documents and
quietly listening to the representations of the
strangers, “you are probably not aware that neither
Governor Leet nor myself can furnish you
with any assistance in our official capacity, until
an assembly of the magistrates of the colony has
been convened, which will have full power to
consider your requests.”

“You forget, certainly, sir,” interrupted Mr.
Kirk, “that we are acting under the special exercise
of an authority, to which your assembly is
only a subordinate institution.”

“I beg your pardon, sir,” replied the governor
hastily, “the assembly is the supreme power of
this colony, and by no means a subordinate institution.
Without its sanctions we do not choose
to act in any emergency.”

“And pray, Reverend Sir,” answered Mr. Kellond,
a strong expression of contempt animating
his features, “will it please you to inform us, at
what time this high and honorable assembly,
to which the two houses of parliament are as nothing,
doth hold its sittings. We would grieve
to detract from the reverence due to so exalted a
tribunal; but, as I have before remarked to you,
our business requires despatch.”

“In the space of half an hour,” replied Mr. Davenport,
without at all noticing the evident irony
of the gentleman's address, “in half an hour,
the magistrates will be convened. It is impossible
that this should be effected sooner, meanwhile
let me intreat you to make yourselves at
home in my dwelling; we will signify to you our
conclusions as soon as possible.”

The tedious interval occupied by the assembly
in its deliberations, was principally employed by
the strangers, in surveying the appearance of the
flourishing little village which surrounded them.
They had, however, sometime ago returned from
their excursions, ere the governor and Mr. Davenport
made their appearance.

“You have been walking,” said the latter,
complacently, as he drew a chair to the hearth.

“We have,” replied Mr. Kirk, in an abrupt
and ungracious tone, “but the result of your
meeting, sir.”

“Aye truly,” exclaimed the governor recollecting
himself. “Then I must inform you, your
petition has been presented to the magistrates of
the colony.”

“And what then?”

“The subject was ably discussed by our reverend
friend here, Mr. Davenport, and deacon
Hezekiah Gilbert, also the worthy Mr. Norton
made some interesting remarks, on the subject of
our relation to the king, in connection with that
of your petition.”

“Your resolution, sir, your resolution, we will
spare the details.”

“And it was resolved,” continued the governor,
composedly, “that as a body of men intrusted
with the government of this colony, for the

suppression of vice and the preserving of order
among us, we have nothing to do with the arrest
of his Majesty's subjects, except in case of actual
transgressions of the laws by which we are governed.
Resolved, that the exiled judges, Whalley
and Goffe have not to our knowledge, in any
way incurred the penalties of said laws, therefore,
as magistrates, we are not authorized to arrest
them. Resolved, moreover, that we will not in
any wise hinder the accomplishment of your errand,
by secreting or harboring said judges.”

“Then,” replied Kirk, rising hastily, while his
whole countenance colored with indignation,
“by the authority of this paper, will I search every
house among you, until those rebels are dragged
forth to justice. At your peril refuse me. And
wo to the traitor who dares secret them.”

“High words—high words, young man,” said
the governor calmly, “but take care, that you
do not make it my painful duty to set your feet in
the stocks, for abuse of your elders. As to the
search you propose, we shall certainly make no
objections. Every house in this village is open
to your examination, only take a kindly warning
that our own laws are in full force, and our magistrates
in perfect readiness to see them executed.”

The threat which this reply contained, was not
entirely lost upon the person to whom it was addressed.
Indeed the idea of personal danger
seemed greatly to soften the asperity of his feelings.
A close examination of the village, was
indeed immediately commenced; but the rude
deportment previously displayed was now exchanged
for an air of decent civility.

It is not our intention to enter into the details

of this day's grievous intrusion upon the sanctity
of New-Haven housewifery. Not a house, not a
room, not a cupboard that did not undergo the
scrutinizing gaze of Messrs. Kirk and Kellond.
Wo to the untidy dame who had sought with an
outside exhibition of neatness, to cover the deformity
of her interior management, for now was
her deception manifest. And wo to the notable
matrons whose clean and quiet dwellings the
feet of Messrs. Kirk and Kellond that day invaded.
Not a chest escaped their Vandal touch;
and the contents of trunks and closets lay spread
on the floor in strange confusion, while their fair
proprietors in mingled dismay and wrath, surveyed
the scene. But it is not to be supposed that
a confederacy of intelligent females was to be
outwitted by a couple of unassisted strangers;
for, though the magistrates of the colony had refused
to furnish further concealment of the regicides,
the helpmates of said magistrates in the
true spirit of republicanism, secretly declared
that resolutions which they had no share in
forming, should not be considered as binding
upon themselves. The embassy of our worthy
travellers was consequently unsuccessful; and,
as our history informs us, they departed the next
morning from the colony threatening the wrath
of the king upon the guiltless magistrates; while
the matrons of New-Haven rejoiced in secret at
this triumph of their skill.