ased when Will would have taken him by the hand as we
was a-coming up to the house."

"No, you don't say!" ejaculated Millicent. "Did he really, now?--to the
Colonel? Well, I'm sure, the world's getting turned upside down."

Millicent was considerably more of that opinion when a few months were
over. Early one spring morning, before anyone was up, some slight but
singular noises roused Mrs Jane from sleep, and calling Jenny, she
desired her to look out of the window and see what was the matter.

Jenny's shriek, when she did so, brought her young mistress to the
casement in a moment. Bentley Hall was surrounded by armed men--
Parliamentary soldiers, standing still and stern--awaiting in complete
silence the orders of their commander.

Mrs Jane went very white, but her self-command did not desert her.

"Never mind screaming, Jenny," she said coolly. "That will do no good.
They'll not take you, child; and these Roundheads, whatever else they
are, are decent men that harm not women and children. I must say so
much for them. Come quick, and dress me, and I will go down to them."

"Oh dear!" cried Jenny. "Madam, they'll kill you!"

"Not they!" said the young lady. "I'm not afraid,--not of a man, at any
rate. I don't say I should have no fear of a ghost. Jenny, hast thou
lost thy head? Here be two shoes--not a pair--thou hast given me; and
what art thou holding out the pomade for? I don't wash in pomade."

Jenny, who was far more flurried and frightened than her mistress,
confusedly apologised as she exchanged the pomade for the soap.

"But--Oh dear! madam, will they take you?" she asked.

"Maybe not, child," said Mrs Jane, quite coolly. "Very like not. I
guess 'tis rather my brother they want. We shall see all the sooner,
Jenny, if thou makest no more blunders."

Jenny, however, contrived to make several more, for she was almost too
excited and terrified to know what she was doing. She put on Mrs
Jane's skirt wrong side out, offered her the left sleeve of her kirtle
for the right arm, and generally behaved like a girl who was frightened
out of her wits.

Mrs Jane, dressed at last, softly opened her door, and desired Jenny to
follow.

"I will wake none else till I know what the matter is," she said.

"Come after me, and I will speak with the Captain of these men from the
little window in the hall."

Jenny obeyed, feeling as if she were more dead than alive.

Mrs Jane quietly unfastened the li