prepare for us, for we have not fared over well
for the last three days."

Accompanied by Humphrey and Pablo, they all went to the stables, and
turned out the ponies to make room for the horses; and as soon as they
were all fed and littered down they returned to the cottage, and
Chaloner and Grenville were introduced. Supper was soon on the table,
and they were too hungry to talk while they were eating, so but little
information was gleaned from them that night. However, previous to
Alice and Edith leaving the room to prepare beds for the newcomers,
Humphrey ascertained that all was lost, and that they had escaped from
the field. When the beds were ready, Chaloner and Grenville retired,
and then Edward remained half an hour with Humphrey, to communicate to
him what had passed. Of course he could not enter into detail; but told
him that he would get information from their new guests after he had
left, which he must do early in the morning.

"And now, Humphrey, my advice is this: My two friends cannot remain in
this cottage, for many reasons; but we have the key of Clara's cottage,
and they can take up their lodging there, and we can supply them with
all they want until they find means of going abroad, which is their
intention. I must be off to the Intendant's to-morrow, and the day
after I will come over to you. In the meantime our guests can remain
here, while you and Pablo prepare the cottage for them; and when I
return everything shall be settled, and we will conduct them to it. I
do not think there is much danger of their being discovered while they
remain there, certainly not so much as if they were here; for we must
expect parties of troops in every direction now, as they were when the
king's father made his escape from Hampton Court. And now to bed, my
good brother; and call me early, for I much fear that I shall not wake
up, if you do not."

The brothers then parted for the night.

The next morning, long before their guests were awake, Edward had been
called by Humphrey, and found Pablo at the door with his horse. Edward,
who had put on his Parliamentary accoutrements, bade a hasty farewell to
them, and set off across the forest to the house of the Intendant, where
he arrived before they had left their bedrooms. The first person he
encountered was, very fortunately, Oswald, who was at his cottage-door.
Edward beckoned to him, being then about one hundred yards off; but
Oswald did not recognise him