We cannot now intrude upon the privacy of either Lady Frances or
Constantia; we must content ourselves with simply stating that Colonel
Jones took his departure, leaving, at Lady Frances's request, a guard of
six soldiers at Cecil Place--a precaution he felt justified in adopting
when he had taken late events into consideration, and was made
acquainted with the miserable condition of Sir Robert's mind, to whom
also he undertook to send immediate medical advice. The servants,
particularly Lady Frances's women, assembled in the great hall, and with
many tears, real and unfeigned tears, lamented the loss of poor
Barbara--talked of the mystery of her birth, and the sudden and almost
supernatural appearance of her father. Greatly did they blame themselves
for permitting him to remove the body, "not knowing," as they said, "but
he would give it heathenish and not Christian burial."
After a little while they conversed upon the malady that had overtaken
their master, and then hints and old tales were thought of, and almost
forgotten rumours of Sir Herbert and his revelries repeated; and as the
lamps burned still more dim, and the embers of the fire dropped one by
one into that grey and blue dust that heralds their perfect decay, the
legends of the isle were rehearsed--How Sir Robert de Shurland, a great
knight and a powerful thane, being angry with a priest, buried him alive
in Minster churchyard; and then, fearing the king's displeasure, and
knowing he was at the Nore, swam on a most faithful horse to his majesty
from the island, to crave pardon for his sin; and the king pardoned him;
and then, right joyfully, he swam back to the land, where, on his
dismounting, he was accosted by a foul witch, who prophesied that the
horse which had saved him should be the cause of his death; but, in
order to prevent the accomplishment of the prophecy, he slew the
faithful animal upon the beach;--how that some time afterwards he passed
by the carcass, and striking a bone with his foot, it entered the flesh,
which mortified, and the tyrant died; in testimony whereof the tomb
stands in Minster church until this day, in the south wall, under a
pointed arch, where he lies, leaning on his shield and banner, and at
his feet a page, while behind him is carved the horse's head that caused
his death:--and, moreover, how his spirit is seen frequently leaping
from turret to turret of the house of Great Shurland, pursued by a
phantom steed! Of such like legends did they talk. Then they thanked God
that their lady was not likely to be Sir Willmott's wife, and spoke of
Dalton and his daring, and many of the old servants shuddered.