o leave the house
for this night."

"Jacob Armitage, leave this house I will not, if it were filled with
troopers; I have said so."

"But, madam--"

"No more, sir; you are too forward," replied the old lady haughtily.

"But, madam--"

"Leave my presence, Jacob Armitage, and never appear again. Quit the
room, and send Agatha here."

"She has left, madam, and so has the cook, and Martha went away behind
Benjamin; when I leave, you will be alone."

"They have dared to leave?"

"They dared not stay, madam."

"Leave me, Jacob Armitage, and shut the door when you go out." Jacob
still hesitated. "Obey me instantly," said the old lady; and the
forester, finding all remonstrance useless, went out, and obeyed her
last commands by shutting the door after him.

Jacob found Agatha and the other maid in the courtyard; he took up their
packages, and, as he promised, accompanied them to Gossip Allwood, who
kept a small ale-house about a mile distant.

"But, mercy on us! What will become of the children?" said Agatha, as
they walked along, her fears for herself having, up to this time, made
her utterly forgetful of them. "Poor things! And Martha has left
them."

"Yes, indeed; what will become of the dear babes?" said the cook,
half-crying.

Now Jacob, knowing that the children of such a Malignant as Colonel
Beverley would have sorry treatment if discovered, and knowing also that
women were not always to be trusted, determined not to tell them how
they were disposed of. He therefore replied:

"Who would hurt such young children as those? No, no, they are safe
enough; even the troopers would protect them."

"I should hope so," replied Agatha.

"You may be sure of that; no man would hurt babies," replied Jacob.
"The troopers will take them with them to Lymington, I suppose. I've no
fear for them; it's the proud old lady whom they will be uncivil to."

The conversation here ended, and in due time they arrived at the inn.
Jacob had just put the bundles down on the table when the clattering of
horses' hoofs was heard. Shortly afterwards the troopers pulled their
horses up at the door, and dismounted. Jacob recognised the party he
had met in the forest, and among them Southwold. The troopers called
for ale, and remained some time in the house, talking and laughing with
the women, especially Agatha, who was a very good-looking girl. Jacob
would have retreated quietly, but he found a sentinel posted at the doo