ady Royland, once again.
"Oh, Roy, my boy, this is good news indeed! But you must be faint and
exhausted. Come in the dining-room. I have something ready for you.--
There, you have nothing to fear now," she said, addressing the women;
"but one of you had better go and tell Master Pawson that we are ready
to sup."

The women went out, some of them still trembling and hysterical, and all
white and scared of aspect.

As soon as the door was closed, Lady Royland caught her son's hand.

"Eight of us women," she said, with a forced laugh: "eight, and of no
use whatever; only ready to huddle together like so many sheep scared by
some little dog; when, if we were men, we could be of so much help.
There, come along; you look quite white. You are doing too much. For
my sake, take care."

Roy nodded and smiled, and followed his mother into the dining-room,
where with loving care she had prepared everything for him, and made it
attractive and tempting, so that it should be a relief to the harsh
realities of the warlike preparations with which the boy was now mixed
up.

"You must eat a good supper, Roy, and then go and have a long night's
rest."

"Impossible, mother," he said, faintly; "must go and visit the men's
posts from time to time."

"No," said Lady Royland, firmly, as she unbuckled her son's sword-belt,
and laid it and the heavy weapon upon a couch.

There was a tap at the door directly after, and one of the maids came
back.

"If you please, my lady, I've been knocking ever so long at Master
Pawson's door, and he doesn't answer. We think he has gone to bed."

"Surely not. He must be in the upper chamber arranging about the things
being removed."

"No, my lady; that was all done a long time ago. It was finished before
the fighting began, for he wouldn't have nothing but his bed and
washstand brought down. The men had to take most of the other things
right down in the black cellar place underneath, so as to clear the
chamber."

"But did you ask the men on guard if they had seen him?"

"Yes, my lady; they say he shut himself up in his room."

"That will do. Never mind," said Lady Royland, dismissing the
maid.--"Now, Roy, I am going to keep you company, and--oh, my boy! what
is it? Ah! You are hurt!"

She flew to his side, and with trembling hands began to tear open his
doublet, but he checked her.

"No, no, mother, I am not--indeed!"

"Then what is it? You are white and trembling, and your f