lank horror.

"My mother will see that you have comfortable rooms or a room somewhere
here. I will give up mine to you if you like."

"Oh! I could not take that," said the secretary, quickly. "But surely
this is not necessary."

"Yes; it is absolutely necessary. Besides, that tower will certainly be
battered by the enemy's guns, and it will not be safe for you."

"I wish you would not persist in looking upon me as such a coward, Roy;
it is not fair. I was never meant for a soldier, but surely a man may
be a man of peace and yet not a coward."

"No, no; I do not look upon you as a coward," said Roy, hastily. "It is
really because that will be a dangerous spot, and the rooms must be
strongly occupied."

"But, as I said, you have the guns at the top. Really, I must protest;
I am so much attached to those little rooms. Surely you can let me
stay. I do not mind the firing. I will not go near the windows."

"You do not grasp the fact that these angle towers are our greatest
protection," said Roy, firmly. "I am sorry to give you all the trouble
and annoyance, but we must have the chambers below. The one you use for
a sleeping-room is absolutely necessary for the powder."

"Indeed, Lady Royland, they could manage without," protested the
secretary, warmly. "It would be a dreadful inconvenience to me to give
them up. There are the books and my papers. Oh, it is really
impossible."

"You forget, Master Pawson, that we all have to make sacrifices now, and
that we shall have to make more and greater ones yet, before this
unhappy trouble is at an end."

"Yes, yes, I know, Lady Royland, and I am ready to do anything to assist
you," cried the secretary, excitedly.

"Then give up your rooms like a man," said Roy, "and without making so
much fuss."

Master Pawson darted an angry look at the boy and then turned to his
mother.

"You know, Lady Royland, how I have thrown myself heart and soul into
the defence since I have found it necessary. You bade me go, but I
would not. Duty said stay, and I risked my life in doing so; but as a
favour, I beg that you will not let me be ousted from my two poor little
rooms to gratify the whim of a very obstinate old soldier, who would
turn your pleasaunce into a drill-ground."

"I have given up my garden because it is wanted, Master Pawson," said
Lady Royland, coldly.

"To gratify a good soldier, I know, but a man who would have everything
turned into a fighting place