f
entertainment for man and horse.

"That's all right. I hope we shall find my friend here;" and they
went towards the light which was shining temptingly through the
latticed window of the road-side inn.

CHAPTER XLI

THE LIEUTENANT'S SENTIMENTS AND PROBLEMS

"Stop! It looks so bright that there must be something going on.
Surely the yeomanry can never have come on here already?"

Tom laid his hand on the bridle, and they halted on the road
opposite the public-house, which lay a little back, with an open
space of ground before it. The sign-post, and a long water-trough
for the horses of guests to drink at, were pushed forward to the
side of road to intimate the whereabouts of the house, and the
hack which Harry led was already drinking eagerly.

"Stay here for a minute, and I'll go to the window, and see
what's up inside. It's very unlucky, but it will never do for us
to go in if there are any people there."

Tom stole softly up to the window out of which the light came. A
little scrap of a curtain was drawn across a portion of it, but
he could see easily into the room on either side of the curtain.
The first glance comforted him, for he saw at once that there was
only one person in the kitchen; but who and what he might be was
a puzzle. The only thing which was clear at a first glance was,
that he was making himself at home.

The room was a moderate-sized kitchen, with a sanded floor, and a
large fire-place; a high wooden screen, with a narrow seat in
front of it, ran along the side on which the door from the
entrance-passage opened. In the middle there was a long rough
walnut table, on which stood a large loaf, some cold bacon and
cheese, and a yellow jug; a few heavy rush-bottomed chairs and a
settle composed the rest of the furniture. On the wall were a few
samplers, a warming pan, and shelves with some common delf
plates, and cups and saucers. But though the furniture was meagre
enough, the kitchen had a look of wondrous comfort for a drenched
mortal outside. Tom felt this keenly, and, after a glance round,
fixed his attention on the happy occupant, with the view of
ascertaining whether he would be a safe person to intrude on
under the circumstances. He was seated on a low, three-cornered
oak seat, with his back to the window, steadying a furze fagot on
the fire with the poker. The fagot blazed and crackled, and
roared up the chimney, sending out the bright flickering light
which had attracted them