garrison, Master Pawson," replied Roy, smiling;
"they all consider themselves to be soldiers now."

"Thank you, thank you," he cried, in a voice which sounded as if it were
choked by emotion, and he hastily left the room.

"I wish he would not be so dreadfully smooth," said Roy, petulantly. "I
want to like Master Pawson, but somehow he always makes me feel cross."

"He is rather too fond of thanking one for every little favour; but it
is his manner, dear, and he has certainly been doing his best to help us
in this time of need."

"Yes," said Roy; "and we should have thought bad enough of him if he had
gone and left us in the lurch. There, mother, I must go and see Ben
Martlet and tell him what has been arranged. He will not like it,
though; but he will have two things out of three."

"You must not give up too much to Martlet, my boy," said Lady Royland,
retaining her son's hand as he rose to go. "He is a faithful old
servant, and will fight for us to the death; but remember that you are
governor of the castle."

"He makes me remember it, mother," cried Roy, merrily. "Don't you be
afraid of his being presuming, for he will not do a thing without I give
the order. There, good-bye."

"Good-bye? You will be back soon."

"No," replied Roy; "I must be on the battlements all night, visiting
posts and helping to keep watch. You forget that the enemy surround us
now."

"Alas! no, Roy. I know it only too well. Come back in an hour's time--
you will want some refreshment. I will see that it is ready, and I hope
by then you will find things so quiet that you can take a few hours'
rest."

"We shall see, mother," said Roy, kissing her affectionately. "How
brave you have grown!"

She shook her head sadly as she clung to him for a few moments; and, as
soon as the door had closed, and his steps died away on the oaken floor
of the corridor, she sank in a chair sobbing as if her heart would
break.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

A GRAND SURPRISE.

Roy had to go the whole round of the ramparts that night before he found
Ben, who had always been visiting the parts he reached a few minutes
before. But he came upon him at length, just at the door-way of the
south-east tower, where it opened upon the southern rampart between that
place and the great gate-way.

"Ladyship says I'm to have the garden to turn back to a proper
court-yard?" said Ben, after hearing his master's report.

"Yes."

"And Master Pawson is tu