ople in the house as idle and
feather-pated as himself. Colonel Lane was in Robin's eyes a good
master, though old Mrs Lavender thought him a bad one. That is, he
allowed his servants to neglect their work with very little censure, and
took no notice of their employments during their leisure hours. And
Satan was not a bit less busy in 1651 than he is in 1895, in finding
mischief for idle hands to do. Leisure time is to a man what he chooses
to make it--either a great blessing or a great curse. And just then,
for those who chose the last, the disturbed and unsettled state of the
country offered particular opportunities.

The war between the King and the Parliament was just over. Charles the
First had been beheaded at Whitehall nearly two years before; and though
his son, Charles the Second, was still in England, fighting to recover
his father's kingdom, it was pretty plainly to be seen that his struggle
was a hopeless one. The great battle of Worcester, which ended the long
conflict, had been fought about three weeks before, and the young King
had only just escaped with his life, through the bravery of his gallant
troops, who made a desperate stand in the street, keeping the victors at
bay while their commander fled to a place of concealment.

The Cavaliers, as Charles's troops were called, had few virtues beyond
their loyalty and courage. After their dispersion at Worcester, they
spread over the country in small parties, begging, stealing, or
committing open ravages. Many of the Parliamentary troops--not all--
were grave, sensible, God-fearing men, who were only concerned to do
what they believed was right and righteous. Much fewer of the Cavaliers
had any such aim, beyond their devotion to the monarchy, and their
enthusiastic determination to uphold it. They were mostly gay,
rollicking fellows, with little principle, and less steadfastness, who
squandered their money on folly, if nothing worse; and then helped
themselves to other people's goods without any uneasiness of conscience.

Colonel Lane was a Cavalier, and devoted to the King, and most of his
tenants were Cavaliers also. A few were Roundheads--staunch adherents
of the Parliament; and a few more had no very strong convictions on
either side, and while they chiefly preferred the monarchy, would have
been content with any settlement which allowed them to live honest and
peaceable lives. Old Mrs Lavender belonged to this last class. If
asked which