ll as we can man them."

"That's it, sir; and we must have elbow-room."

"Of course!"

"Then will you speak to my lady, and ask her to give Master Pawson a
couple of rooms in the private part somewhere, or one room ought to be
enough now, for I want those two chambers of his badly?"

"He won't like that, Ben," said Roy, quickly.

"I s'pose not, sir; and there'll be a lot of things none of us will
like, but we've got to put up with them. If you'll see about that at
once, I shall be glad."

"Is it very necessary, Ben?"

"You know best about that, sir."

"Yes, it is very necessary, Ben," said Roy; and he hurried off to talk
the matter over with his mother, visiting the ramparts on his way.

He found Lady Royland busy writing, and she looked up with a smile.

"I am keeping a diary of all that has taken place since we began the
defence. But tell me first--Raynes's men--are we to give them up?"

"I'm afraid so, mother. They have not failed us, but have been taken
prisoners."

"This is a sad blow, Roy, but we must make up for it by working
together.--But what is it? You have not come to chat about nothings."

"No, mother," said the boy, seriously. "I have come to say that the
pleasaunce must go. Ben Martlet says he cannot do without it now."

"I have been expecting this, my boy. It has always been a dear delight
to me, but it is a pleasure for peace; and when the happy days come
back, I shall want the whole garrison to restore it to me again."

"Then I was right in telling Ben to take what he wanted?"

"Of course, my boy.--Something else?"

"Yes, mother--another bit of self-sacrifice. Martlet and I both feel
that we must have the north-west tower.--Ah, Master Pawson, you there?"

"Yes. I knocked twice, and I thought you said `Come in.'"

"Then you heard what I said just now."

"I heard you mention the western tower. Have you been telling her
ladyship of what we saw this evening?"

"No. What did you see?" cried Lady Royland, quickly.

"The enemy has completely surrounded us with sentinels."

"Ah! they would, of course."

"It was not that, Master Pawson--but this; I was about telling my mother
that, for the purposes of defence, Martlet and I feel that we must have
the north-west tower."

"But you have it; the guns are there."

"The top only," said Roy. "The chambers below are required for the men
who work the guns, for ammunition, and other purposes."

Master Pawson looked at him in b