bara's intense relief: "But asking questions is sheer waste of
breath. I have no time to talk. We must search the house."

Barbara sank into her chair again. Surely they must hear the beating of
her heart, she thought. Oh, anything, anything to appear calm! The risk
was double--first, that they might themselves discover the secret
place; secondly, that in tapping the walls, as they were even now
doing, they might give her signal to the fugitive, and thus cause him
to betray himself. She buried her face in her embroidery, but was aware
that the Captain's eyes were on her. The soldiers were passing round
the room slowly, thoroughly. In the stress of her perturbation Barbara
rose and moved to the door, controlling her agitation with a tremendous
effort.

"Follow the lady," said the Captain to one of the soldiers. "Don't lose
sight of her for a moment." ("The minx knows something," he muttered in
his moustache.)

"You brute!" cried Philip, drawing his sword. "Do you dare to order my
sister to be dogged? Come on." And he made a lunge at the Roundhead.

"Steady!" said the Captain, parrying the thrust--"steady, young fellow!"

Barbara, catching at the door, screamed and swooned.

Philip thrust at him again.

"Be still," muttered the Captain; "we must have no bloodshed here." And
he twitched the weapon from the boy's hand, adding: "Very well, I
withdraw the order. Carry your sister to her room, and my soldier shall
merely stand sentinel at her door. Another word, you puppy, and I'll
have you in irons!"

With an effort Philip obeyed, remembering the duty the night held for
him; and he and Digger together carried Barbara to her room, followed
by the soldier, who took up his stand at the door.

On resuming their search, the soldiers did no more than thrust their
pikes up the chimney, and in a few minutes proceeded to the other rooms.

An hour later the Captain sent for Philip, who sauntered into his
presence whistling a country dance.

"I am going at once," said the Captain.

Philip had it in his mind to press him ironically to stay, with a word
of regret that his visit was so short; but he stifled the temptation,
and simply nodded.

"But I am not in the least satisfied," the Captain continued, "and I
mean to leave three soldiers behind to guard the entries and your
sister's room. No one leaves the Hall to-night."

Philip's face fell. "But I must," he said. "I am at school at
Framshott, and we, my companions and I