is side. "You must not
desert me; I'm quite alone now."

"Oh, very well, if it's like that, sir, I'll stop with you," quavered
the old man; and he stepped stiffly behind his young master, unconscious
of the smiles and whispers which arose.

Half an hour later the new garrison had settled down to its quarters;
the three heavy guns from the battery had been brought in and planted in
the gate-way to sweep the approach, and Royland Castle was transformed
into a Parliamentary stronghold, protected by whose guns a little camp
was formed just beyond the moat, and occupied by the cavalry of the
force.

Ben and his three comrades were placed in a room opening on the
court-yard, with leave to go anywhere about the quadrangle, with a
sentry placed over them--hardly a necessity, for they were all suffering
from wounds, of which, however, they made light when Roy went to them,
setting him a capital example of keeping a good heart.

Then, finding himself fully at liberty to go where he pleased, the
sentries saluting and letting him pass, Roy made for the hospital-room,
longing for and yet dreading the interview, fearing as he did to witness
his mother's despair.

To his surprise, as she eagerly caught his hands in hers, her face was
wreathed in smiles, and she strove to comfort him.

"Defeated, Roy; but even your enemies honour you for your brave
defence," she whispered.

"Ours, mother; not mine only," he said. And then, feeling that he could
not even allude to the traitor who carefully kept out of his way, he
went round to the men's beds with Lady Royland. The place was pretty
full now, but in spite of serious wounds the room looked cheerful, and
the men of both sides received them with smiles. There was only one sad
face, and that was Sam Donny's, for he had taken to his bed again, "from
weakness," Lady Royland said.

She passed on to the next bed, and Roy sat down by the poor fellow for a
few minutes, to take his hand, gazing the while in his drawn and
wrinkled face.

"I'm very, very sorry, Sam," Roy said, gently. "Come, you must try and
get right again."

"Yes, captain," said the man loudly, with a groan. "I was to have been
out in a few days if I hadn't turned worse. This doctor don't
understand my case."

"What is it?" said Roy, anxiously. "Has your wound broken out again?"

"Nothing at all," whispered the man, with his eyes twinkling. "I'm
nearly as right as you are, sir; and when you want me, here I a