University of Virginia Library

5. CHAPTER V.
THE MEETING.

“THE time has now come for you to depart,” said Lucy Hutchinson,
in a low voice. “This interview with you has given
me firmness and hope in this trying emergency. I shall
always feel that I have in you a friend whom I can confide in at all
times!”

“You honor me, Miss Hutchinson,” answered Fleming, with a
bright ray of joy dancing in his eyes, as they were bent upon her
beautiful face. “I shall always be ready to serve you. Without
betraying the interests of the colony, I can advise you whenever
danger menaces you or your father. But even you, fair lady, could
not make me a traitor! What I shall communicate to you will be
for your personal safety. Do not fail, in the meanwhile, to urge
upon your father mildness and clemency.”

“I will not,” answered the maiden, firmly. “My father calls to
me. Farewell!”

“Shall we not meet again?” asked Fleming, earnestly, as he held
her hand in his lingering yet respectful grasp.

“Yes. I shall always see you with pleasure. But for my sake
do not fail to use your influence with the town's-people to forbear.
Patience and charity on both sides will prove the only protection
against scenes of contest that I tremble to think upon! Remain
here for a moment. I would rather that you and Mr. Cleverling
should not meet.”

As she spoke, she withdrew her hand from his, but not before a
kiss had been impressed upon it, which caused the maiden blush
to mantle check and brow. The next moment Fleming was alone.
He could not but hear all that passed in the adjacent room, as Cleverling
spoke in a loud tone of indignation, though his conversation
with Lucy having been conducted in an under voice, passed not beyond
their own ears.

“What do you report, Lieutenant Cleverling?” asked the governor,
after Cleverling entered.

“That it is time, your excellency, prompt and severe measures
were taken with these colonists!” answered the young officer, in an
indignant tone. “Ah, Miss Hutchinson, good evening!” he added,
as he saw Lucy enter.

The maiden bowed slightly, and advancing to her father's side,
stood by his chair, leaning upon it with one arm.

“What has transpired, sir?” demanded the governor. “You
have not found the young colonist, I know, because he has been with
me, and I have pardoned him!”

“Pardoned him?” repeated the officer, with surprise.

“Yes, I have thought it best. His arrest would have created an
uproar among the town's-people, as I find he is popular with them.
It is better to be pacific and conciliate!”

“Thanks, dear father, for those words,” said Lucy, in a voice of
deep gratitude and joy, but speaking only to that he himself could
hear.

“He and his family, your excellency,” cried Cleverling, “deserve
rather to be hung up by the necks. I have met with treatment that
I never experienced before, and your authority has been openly
despised!”

“In what way? What has occurred? You did not find the
young man. What then has happened to cause such agitation?”

“I will inform your excellency,” answered Cleverling, pale with
anger. “In obedience to your orders, I marched with a strong detachment
of thirty men, a force which I supposed quite sufficient to
overawe any of the neighbors who might be inclined to interfere. I
reached the house, though not without meeting with various insults
as we passed along the streets, such as being pelted with missiles,
and called after with cries of approbrium even by the ragamuffin
boys of the market-place!”

“What cries did they utter?” asked the governor, looking displeased
and alarmed at these popular exhibitions of hostility.

“Down with the red-coats! Down with Hutchinson! No Stamp-Act!
Liberty forever! No tyrants! No North! No Bute!
Down with the Parliament!”

“This is getting to be a serious affair! Such bold language,
uttered in the very face of armed troops!” cried the governor,
sternly. “These colonists have too much freedom. It makes them

lawless. The Stamp-Act was needful, or, by the king's throne!
they would rebel and set up a king and parliament for themselves!
But what further happened? Instead, you see, Lucy, of sending
back the soldiers to the castle, I have need to double the number in
the town!”

“Had it not been for the presence of the soldiers, father, these
cries would not have been uttered!” answered the young girl,
firmly.

“I see that Miss Hutchinson is favorably inclined towards the
colonists,” said Cleverling, in a sarcastic manner.

“My daughter, sir? No. She speaks thus only because she is a
woman. She is a true king's subject, Mr. Cleverling. Did I suppose
she felt for them, I would call her no daughter of mine! But
what more?” he asked, impatiently.

“I reached the court where the house at which I had been refused
admittance was situated. I was followed into the court by a rabble
of not less than a hundred men and boys. I had twice to order the
rear to face about and present their bayonets to keep them from
crowding us, they were so insolently bold!”

“You should have fired upon them, sir! You should have fired
upon them, Mr. Cleverling!” exclaimed Hutchinson, in a voice of
rage. “Had you killed a score of them I would have sustained
you!”

“No, father! One drop of blood thus spilled, had it been a child's,
would have been followed by fearful carnage. I commend Mr.
Cleverling for his forbearance!”

“I thank you, Miss Hutchinson. Your approbation is so rare in
reference to me and my acts that I shall duly value your praise!”
This was spoken in a tone cold and ironical; for Cleverling had
been an admirer of the maiden, but had wooed without success, as
she perceived in his character traits that not only withheld her love,
but respect. Now, whenever they met, it was with cool politeness
on both sides. He took a malicious satisfaction at such times in repaying
her refusal to encourage his addresses, by throwing irony
and sarcasm into nearly every word addressed her. She, however,
paid no regard to this system of petty revenge, being perfectly calm
and unmoved by it. “I thought it not safe to order my men to fire,
your excellency,” continued the young officer, “and forebore with
them. Upon reaching the front of the house. I drew up my men
and surrounded it. I then demanded admittance in the king's name.

There was no reply. I thrice made the same call upon those within,
and then ordered four men up to break in the door with the butts of
their muskets. They obeyed, and the door gave way. I was then
rushing in with my sword drawn, when I was suddenly caught up
by a huge giant that lodges there, and thrown into one of the side
rooms as if I had been a bundle of straw! The fellow shall pay for
the act if I live to execute my vengeance upon him! He then seized
two of my soldiers and threw them out of the door, knocking down
with them three others who were behind them. Then grasping a
heavy club which he carried, he laid about him as Sampson did with
the jaw-bone of the ass, and in a moment cleared the yard of my
men. I leaped out of the window of the room in which I had been
thrown by him, and rallied such of my men as were not disabled, for
five of them were either lying or seated upon the ground unable to
stir. Infuriated at this reception, I gave orders for the men to charge
bayonets and carry the house by storm!”

“You did right! This is a fearful state of things!” cried the
governor.

“It would not have happened, father, if you had not brought the
troops into the town,” said Lucy, firmly.

“Silence, daughter! I shall begin to think with Cleverling that
your sympathies are with these insurgents! Did you charge upon
the house?”

“I was about to do so, when a stout fellow came up to me and said,
`Captain, if you are wise you will retire with your red-coats as
peaceably as you can; for, if you attempt to push a bayonet or pull
a trigger, not one of you will ever get back to your master Hutchinson
alive! The man you seek is not here!'

“He spoke in a deliberate tone, and with a determined resolution
of manner that impressed me. I reflected a moment, and seeing
that the court was filled with the crowd, I thought it best to forbear
for the time. So I gave the command for my men to march, the
crowd quietly and silently giving away on either hand for me to
pass through to Cornhill. The wounded men were borne along
each by two of their fellow-soldiers, until I got to the battery of
cannon in front of the State House, where I left them in charge of
those on duty there. I then marched hither without delay to make
my report.”

“And an alarming report it is,” responded the governor. “This
is a strange state of things. I see that an example must be made.

They will not learn a lesson till one or two of them have been strung
up or shot!”

“I would recommend your excellency to order all the force at the
castle into the town,” said Cleverling, “and put the place under
martial law. I would have this gigantic idiot arrested and shot, for
you could not find a rope strong enough to hang him with! The
young man, Fleming Field, I would also arrest and make an example
of him. If such an outrage as that which has been done to-night is
suffered by your excellency to pass unnoticed, the town will be unsafe
for us. It would sound bravely in the ears of those at home,
the report that the king's troops had been driven out of Boston by
the town's-people!”

“Such a report shall never reach England while I am acting governor
of this commonwealth,” answered the lieutenant-governor,
pacing the apartment like an enraged tiger. “This comes of forbearance
and clemency!”

“Pray, father, what forbearance and clemency have you shown,
out of which these scenes have sprung?” asked Lucy Hutchinson, in
a fearless manner.

“So! you are half a colonist in heart now, I'll be sworn!” cried
her father, turning upon her a fiery glance of suspicion. “Where is
this young Fleming Field, whom I caused to be detained from clemency,
for I did not wish Cleverling to fall in with him after I had
promised him pardon? Has he done looking at the pictures yet?”

“I am here, your excellency,” answered Fleming, entering the
room. “I have been waiting your pleasure.”

“My pleasure, then, is that you be arrested for this outrage upon
Mr. Cleverling and the soldiers under his care, done at your house,
and doubtless at your instigation. You have heard his story?”

“I have overheard it, your excellency. The reception your
officer met with would have been no less severe had I been present
in person!”

“It would not, fellow?” cried Cleverling, who had witnessed his
entrance with profound surprise, which was changed to indignation
and glances of menace, as he caught the firm, calm eye of the young
colonist.

“Do you utter such words in my presence, sirrah?” demanded
the governor, sternly.

“If Mr. Cleverling strove to enter a free citizen's house by force
of arms, he was served right in being ejected forcibly!”

“We shall see how that is, young man! Who was this giant he
speaks of?”

“My elder and only brother, your excellency. Nature has denied
him intellect, but endowed him in lieu of it with vast stature and
Herculean strength. He has but little sense, yet the possesses strong
affections. His love to his mother, his sister and myself would do
honor to the kindest heart. He guards our home with the faithfulness
with which a lion watches over her young. In casting forth
your officer, he but obeyed the instincts of his love; and I thank God
that he hath endued my brother with strength of body to accomplish
that which his heart prompted him to do!”

“Your brother shall be arrested,” answered the governor. “If he
has wit enough to defend his house, he is responsible for his actions.
I am not to pass lightly by the injury done to five of the soldiers by
him, to say nothing of the defiance of the king's authority, and of my
own. Cleverling, you will take a sufficient force with you early in
the morning, and bring this man before me. I shall detain his
brother until you have executed your order. You may now retire
to your quarters.”

“Suppose, your excellency, that I meet with resistance?”

“Fire without hesitation upon every one who dares to oppose
you! I commission you to keep the king's peace, and if these mad
colonists break it, let it be at their peril!”

“It shall be, sir,” answered Cleverling, as he turned to leave the
room. “Am I to understand that this young man is a prisoner?”

“Yes!” answered the governor, after a moment's hesitation.

“Then I will take him and place him under guard, if it please
your excellency.”

“Do so, for he is not secure here!”

“Mr. Cleverling,” said Lucy Hutchinson, stepping between him
and Fleming—for he had returned after reaching the door, and
drawing his sword, approached the young colonist—“this young
man is free! My father gave him pardon and permission to depart.
Governor Hutchinson never yet broke his word! Mr. Field, you
are at liberty to depart!”

Her father looked at her with surprise. He made several attempts
to speak, but kept silent. He seemed to fear before his noble and
firm daughter. Cleverling glanced from him to her, as if to see
which would govern. He saw the father's indecision yielded before
the daughter's resolution. Nevertheless, his determination to secure

Fleming at all hazards, combined with his dislike of the maiden, led
him to resolve to apprehend the person who stood in the way of his
lawless intentions towards Mary Field.

“Mr. Field, if that is your name,” he said, laying his hand upon
his arm, “I arrest you in the name of the king, and by virtue of this
warrant, signed and sealed by the king's governor!”

“Do you dare, and in this presence?” cried the indignant girl, her
eyes flashing with haughty scorn.

“I have received no countermanding order, Miss Hutchinson!
Till I do so this man is my prisoner! Ho there, without!”

His call was responded to by two soldiers, who had accompanied
him to the outer door. They entered and looked at him for further
orders.

“Seize that man and secure him!” cried Cleverling.

“Soldiers, leave this presence!” cried the indignant maiden, “and
you, Lieutenant Cleverling, also depart! Do you insult the governor
in his own house? It is you, sir, who should be placed under arrest
were I in my father's place! Depart, sir, and presume not too
much upon the governor's clemency!”

“Fore God, daughter!” cried the governor, “you had best take
my place and done with it, for I see you are playing the governor
before my very eyes! I shall have to put you under arrest if you
carry so high a hand!”

“Did you not, sir, pardon Mr. Field? Did he not remain here at
your suggestion till this officer returned, that he might not be arrested
in the street? Will you now falsify your word, sir, and surrender
him to the charge of a man who, for some reason or other, seems to
bear against him private malice? While I am in your presence, sir,
I will not see you thus wrong your own honor! Mr. Field is free,
and, being so, should be suffered to depart!”

“Well, he shall go then. Mr. Cleverling, you may retire. When
I have further orders I will send for you!”

Cleverling bit his lip with the most intense vexation. He would
have answered freely, and spoken his mind to the governor, if he had
dared. He retired, fixing upon Lucy a glance of defiance and
triumph, and upon Fleming a threatening and malicious look.

“Now, Mr. Field, you are at liberty to return to your own home,”
said the governor. “You see my weakness. I have yielded to my
daughter rather than acted as my position dictated. I gave my
word to let you go free, and I keep it, as you see! But let me caution

you, young man, about resisting the troops, or heading any party
against the lawful authority of the king. Let my clemency make
you my friend and the friend of the king!”

“I would ask, your excellency, if it is your intention to send to
arrest my brother?” demanded Fleming, in a firm but respectful
tone.

“No; I will answer for my father,” said Lucy, quickly, and
placing her arm affectionately over the governor's shoulder, and
smiling in his face. “He will not take any further measures that
are likely to widen the breach between the people and the crown!”

“How so, girl?” answered the governor, with a frown, yet still
with that air of affection towards her, which never deserted him.
“Am I governor of this commonwealth, or are you?”

“I do not wish to rule, sir, save by love. I am interested in your
honor and happiness as a daughter. Any further steps taken in this
affair will be only to gratify the vengeance of Cleverling. He thinks
not of the king's honor half so much as of his own selfishness! The
town is now almost in arms, sir, at the attack made by him to-night
upon the private house of a citizen; and I doubt not but that deep
retribution would have followed ere this, if they had not thought the
soldiers had been sufficiently punished already by this young man's
gigantic brother!”

“Tell me what I shall do, then?” asked the governor, perplexed,
between his personal fears and his desire to keep the good will of
the ministry, whose policy he saw was despotic and hostile to the
colonists. “If I pass this by, I shall be accused by the ministry of
weakness; for the passage of the Stamp-Act clearly shows me, and
all the world, the temper they hold towards these people! I am not
the half so severe upon them as the king at home. What would you
have? The king hates them, and I must hate them! The ministry
oppresses, and I must oppress them! Parliament binds burdens
upon them, and I must put them on their backs, or lose my place!
Blame not me, but the king I serve!”

Lucy made no reply. She looked sadly at Fleming, for she knew
that he, as well as she herself, saw beneath the wicked fallacy of this
defence. She knew that the guilt lay as much with her father as
with the power he professed to obey. Fleming now prepared to
go, when Lucy said quickly,

“Do not return by the direct street, nor leave the house openly.
Cleverling is a dangerous man, and, for some deeper cause than

your resistance to him, he desires your ruin. Follow me, and I will
show you a safe way out.”

“I do not fear him, Miss Hutchinson. I am not a criminal, that I
should fly secretly! I will go openly as I came!”

“For my sake, Fleming, be discreet,” she said, in a low, impressive
tone. The words, and the kind looks which accompanied them,
made his heart bound with transport, and he knew not what wild
hopes.

“For your sake I will be everything but false to my oppressed
country,” he said, with enthusiasm.

“Then follow me this way!”

Fleming turned back to bid the lieutenant-governor good night,
ere he walked after her.

“Then you are going, young man?”

“Yes, your excellency.”

“I warn you, then, not to meddle with this matter between the
king and the colony. Those who are discreet will by-and-bye be
the best off. Heads have fallen on the scaffold for a lesser matter
than this of thine! But for my daughter's sake I have overlooked
the crime. Take care of yourself henceforth!”

Fleming then passed out into the hall, through the adjacent room,
preceded by Lucy, who had already opened the door, and was waiting
for him. She led him to the piazza in the rear of the house, and
so down through the garden to a gate, which was locked on the
inner side. Here a sentinel was posted, who, at her command,
opened the way and suffered him to pass. He hastily pressed her
offered hand with grateful devotion, and the next moment was on
his way towards his own dwelling.