absent air, and then he added, "You remember a
conversation we once had, the eve of my departure from Mowbray in '39?"

"I do," said Morley reddening.

"The miners were not so ready then," said Hatton.

"They were not," said Morley speaking with some confusion.

"Well they are here now," said Hatton.

"They are," said Morley thoughtfully, but more collected.

"You saw them enter yesterday?" said Hatton. "I was sorry I missed it,
but I was taking a walk with the Gerards up Dale to see the cottage
where they once lived, and which they used to talk of so much! Was it a
strong body?"

"I should say about two thousand men, and as far as bludgeons and iron
staves go, armed."

"A formidable force with no military to encounter them."

"Irresistible, especially with a favourable population."

"You think the people were not grieved to see them?"

"Certainly. Left alone they might have remained quiet; but they only
wanted the spark. We have a number of young men here who have for a
long time been murmuring against our inaction and what they call want
of spirit. The Lancashire strike set them all agog; and had any popular
leader, Gerard for example or Warner, resolved to move, they were
ready."

"The times are critical," said Hatton wheeling his arm-chair from the
table and resting his feet on the empty fire-place. "Lord de Mowbray had
no idea of all this. I was with him on my way here, and found him quite
tranquil. I suppose the invasion of yesterday has opened his eyes a
little."

"What can he do?" said Morley. "It is useless to apply to the
Government. They have no force to spare. Look at Lancashire; a few
dragoons and rifles hurried about from place to place and harassed by
night service; always arriving too late, and generally attacking the
wrong point, some diversion from the main scheme. Now we had a week ago
some of the 17th Lancers here. They have been marched into Lancashire.
Had they remained the invasion would never have occurred."

"You haven't a soldier at hand?"

"Not a man; they have actually sent for a party of 73d from Ireland to
guard us. Mowbray may be burnt before they land."

"And the castle too," said Hatton quietly. "These are indeed critical
times Mr Morley. I was thinking when walking with our friend Gerard
yesterday, and hearing him and his charming daughter dilate upon the
beauties of the residence which they had forfeited, I was thinking what
a strange thing life is, and that the fa