coming to the cottage shortly.

Maud was not in a humour to thank either her guardian or the soldier for
anything they might do now, but when they arrived she told them what had
taken place the night before; and on the gentlemen promising to ride
back to the village and make inquiries into the matter, to prevent its
recurrence, she was obliged to promise to return to the Grange, upon
Roger being sent down as a guard for Dame Coppins for this night. But
she was very ungracious in her bearing towards the young soldier,
although it was evident that he greatly wished to please her.

It was Captain Stanhope's business just now to get fresh men to recruit
his Majesty's army, and he readily consented to Master Drury's
proposition that he should make Hayslope Grange his head-quarters for
the present. His men could be lodged in the village, and they could make
short expeditions into the surrounding country in search of recruits,
and thus business could be combined with pleasure on the part of the
Captain, while it would afford the Royalist leaders a proof that Master
Drury of the Grange was still a staunch Cavalier, should they hear of
the defection of his son; and thus the matter was settled to the
satisfaction of all parties--at least, all but Maud, and the arrangement
vexed her exceedingly.

CHAPTER VII.

THE REVEL.

May-day had not been kept with its usual festivity at Hayslope this
year, and so in this month of June it was proposed to have a junketing
on the village green in honour of Captain Stanhope and his soldiers.
Maud, and many another as sad-hearted as she, were in no humour for
revelry when their dear ones were away at the war, and Bertram was quite
indignant that Mary should wish it if Captain Stanhope did, and loudly
declared he would not join in the fun. The horns of ale passed freely
from hand to hand that day, and the soldiers kept up the excitement
among the villagers by occasionally giving them a fanfare from their
trumpets, drinking with them, and telling them stories of "glorious
war." It had the desired effect. Before the night closed in half-a-dozen
lads had enlisted, and among them Master Drury's trusty groom, Roger.

This was rather more than the gentleman had bargained for, and he was
very angry when he heard it, but he could not say much to Captain
Stanhope, lest the sincerity of his principles should be doubted. But it
seemed that Roger was not the only prize the young soldier coveted,