to be silent now, and he stopped as if the
words would not come.

"And what did you say?"

"Well, my lady, I took the liberty of saying that your ladyship was
training up the women, and that when one of us was lucky enough to get
wounded in the service of his king and country, he'd be carried into one
of the big rooms o' the east side, as would be turned into a hospital,
and there tied up and put to bed, and souped and jellied and pastied,
and made so much of, that he'd be sorry for the poor comrades who were
only working the guns and doing the fighting."

"You were quite right, Martlet," said Lady Royland. "Tell the men that
the wounded shall each be treated as if he were my own son."

"Begging your ladyship's pardon, that's just what I did tell 'em, only I
put a few flourishes to it, and I won't say it again, because it may
make 'em rash and wanting to get wounded for the sake of being carried
into the snug quarters, and--"

"Sit down, Martlet, and eat," said Lady Royland, pushing a chair towards
the table.

"With your ladyship's permission, I'd rather cut off a bit o' something,
and go and sit on one of the guns to eat it, and look out too. I should
enjoy it better."

"Do as you wish," said Lady Royland. "There, take that fowl and loaf."

"Thank you kindly, my lady, and--Morning, Master Roy, sir. Had a good
sleep?"

For at that moment Roy sprang from the couch and looked excitedly round.

"What is it?" he cried. "What's the matter? Morning! Surely I have
not--"

"Yes, Roy, soundly and well, all night. Come, you must be ready for
breakfast."

"Yes, yes, mother," cried the boy, impatiently.--"But tell me, Ben--Oh,
you ought not to have let me sleep all night. Here, what has happened?"

"Nothing at all, sir, or I should have sent for you," said the old
soldier, who had taken out a handkerchief, given it a shake, and spread
it upon the carpet, placed in it the roast chicken and loaf, sprinkled
all liberally with salt, and now proceeded to tie the ends of the
handkerchief across, to make a bundle. "They're a-padrolling round and
round, just as they have been all night, and keeping well out of
gunshot. Wouldn't like me to send a ball hopping along the ground to
try the range, would you, sir?"

"No, not unless they attack," said Roy, quickly.

"Thought you wouldn't, sir, when I spoke.--Thank ye for this snack, my
lady. I'll go back now to the ramparts.--P'raps you'll jyne me there,
Master Roy