n a paper promising to
pay them money for giving him the letter which tells how he is heir to
Arden. But already they have found out that a letter signed by a child
is useless and unlawful. And they dare not let Richard go for fear of
punishment. So, if you choose to do nothing your father is safe and you
will inherit Arden."

"What am I to do?" Edred asked again--"to get Dickie back, I mean."

"You must go alone and at night to Beale's cottage, open the door and
you will find Richard's dog asleep before the fire. You must unchain the
dog and take him to the milestone by the crossroads. Then go where the
dog goes. You will need a knife to cut cords with. And you will need
all your courage. Look in my eyes."

Edred looked in the eyes of the Mouldiestwarp and saw that they were no
longer a mole's eyes but were like the eyes of all the dear people he
had ever known, and through them the soul of all the brave people he had
ever read about looked out at him and said, "Courage, Edred. Be one of
us."

"Now look at the people on the Hall," said the Mouldiestwarp.

Edred looked. And behold, they were no longer strangers. He knew them
all. Joan of Arc and Peter the Hermit, Hereward and Drake, Elsa whose
brothers were swans, St. George who killed the dragon, Blondel who sang
to his king in prison, Lady Nithsdale who brought her husband safe out
of the cruel Tower. There were captains who went down with their ships,
generals who died fighting for forlorn hopes, patriots, kings, nuns,
monks, men, women, and children--all with that light in their eyes which
brightens with splendor the dreams of men.

And as he came down off the throne the great ones crowded round him,
clasping his hand and saying--

"Be one of us, Edred. Be one of us."

Then an intense white light shone so that the children could see nothing
else. And then suddenly there they were again within the narrow walls
of Edred's bedroom.

"Well," said Elfrida in tones of brisk commonplace, "what did it say to
you? I say, you do look funny."

"Don't!" said Edred crossly. He began to tear off the armor. "Here, help
me to get these things off."

"But what did it say?" Elfrida asked, helpfully.

"I can't tell you. I'm not going to tell any one till it's over."

"Oh, just as you like," said Elfrida; "keep your old secrets," and left
him.

That was hard, wasn't it?

"I can't help it, I tell you. Oh! Elfrida, if _you're_ going to bother
it's just a little bit to