him. His mind had been racing, recalculating the injustice that had been dealt him. Thoughts of revenge began to boil over and over in his mind. Such thoughts were completely contrary to his nature and he fought to replace them.
He felt around and found a bed of stone and a small woolen blanket. The blanket would provide little relief from the chill coming from the slit of a window above him. He felt something bite on his boot and he jerked with a start. Then he realized that it must be a rat. He hated rats and imagined the rat crawling up his leg, on the flesh beneath his trousers. A shiver ran up his spine and he drew the blanket more tightly around himself.
The rat scampered now across the room looking for a morsel that couldn’t be found. Suddenly there was a swift movement in the darkness and the rat hit the wall near His head. The force of the impact killed the rat and it fell onto his chest. He quickly flung his arms and the blanket sent the lifeless rat into the air and away from himself. With that, there was a chuckle from the corner of the cell.
James asked, 'Who are you, sir?'
Richard recognized James' voice and excitedly stated, 'It is I, Richard Easton.'
'Richard? Whot are you doing 'ere?' asked James.
'I shuld ask you the same,' replied Richard. 'I am accused unjustly of thievery.'
'And I of 'eresy,' replied James.
''eresy!' Richard repeated with a gasp. 'Whot will becomb of you?'
'Aye, you know whot they do with 'eretics.'
'Tell me whot 'appened, I 'ave been 'ere since Sat'urdee last,' urged Richard.
James repeated to him the story of his trial and sentencing and when he finished, Richard didn't say a word for a time, then all he said was 'I am soory.'
Outside a light snow had been falling most of the night. The thin blanket of snow muted most sounds that would normally be familiar to the night. The prisoners could still hear the sound of dogs in the distance and an occasional disturbance from the public house across the narrow roadway.
James was nervous and he started humming a tune to relax. When Richard heard the tune, he asked, 'Whot is that tune you hum? It sounds faintly familiar.'
James stopped humming and said, 'It is a song that me mum wuld sing for me as a lit'le lad.' And then he continued the song, but with the words,
"Faire Maiden, "Flower of Youth", From whence forth springth thy charm?
Commanding attention. Over none thou doth loom, But, mighty ones are disarmed.
Thy voice, as sweet as all arias sung, Calms the most covetous clamor."
Richard had been listening intently and then, of a sudden, he remembered the song and joined.
"A pavilion of grace to which all may come, Thy presence a delicious nectar.
How canst thou forgive this gargoyle face? Loveliness escaped me at birth.
But, I can offer thee in its place A loyalty that is beyond worth."
Richard stood excitedly and asked, 'Your mum sang that song to you as a wee lad?'
James was surprised that a song could elicit such excitement. 'Aye,' James said. 'It is the only song I remember from me youth.'
Richard reached out to James in the darkness. With great emotion in his voice, he exclaimed, 'I am the one who penned that song. Who was your mum?'
James was bewildered, but replied, ''er name is Elizabeth.'
Richard was overcome with joy and fell to the ground on his knees. 'Praise be to God!' he cried.
'I do nay understand,' said James.
'Who was your father, James?' asked Richard.
'Me father was Thomas, the baker.'
'Do you resemble 'im?' asked Richard.
James thought for a moment and said, 'Nay, 'e was much shorter and portly.'
Richard tried to contain his excitement, knowing that this was difficult for James to understand in an instance. 'James,' said Richard in a serious tone that belied his excitement, 'I penned that song for your mum.'
''ow culd you 'ave penned this song for me mum?' asked James.
'James, whot I am aboot to share with you is absolutely true. I 'ave waited so long.' Richard then told James about his marriage to Elizabeth and about their accidental separation. He told him of his travels in search of her. 'James, I searched for your mum for many munths and she culd nay be found. She thought me deed.'
James didn't know what to think and he sat in silence. Richard broke the silence with a question. 'James, do you luk more like Thomas, or meself?'