d
making a grab at a couple he had seen prominent in the fight, he held
them with a grip they could not escape.

The attackers were routed; Binfield Towers was saved. Within a minute
George was being greeted, congratulated, thanked, till he was almost
fain to run for it, as the bulk of the mob had done. His father,
Matthew, Fieldsend, even old Reuben--all crowded around with delight.
In no long time Mrs. Maynard and Mary Blackett appeared, smiling
through their tears of joy at their great deliverance. The latter had
so grown that George hardly recognized her. All came up except the old
Squire, and he was presently found in an alarming condition, one of
his old heart attacks having come on. It was the only drawback to the
joy of the meeting and the ending of the danger that had threatened
the household.

Early next morning word was carried to the Fairburns that Squire
Blackett was dead; he had never recovered from the shock and the
seizure consequent thereon.

"Poor old neighbour!" Fairburn said, with a mournful shake of the
head, "I am afraid he has left things in a sorry state."

Fairburn's fears were only too well founded. Mr. Blackett had left
little or nothing, and Matthew and his sister would be but
indifferently provided for. Then it was that Fairburn came out like a
man. He proposed to run the colliery for their benefit. To the world
it was to appear that the collieries had been amalgamated or rather
that the Blackett pit had been bought up by his rival. The advantage
to Matthew and Mary was too obvious to be rejected, and the required
arrangements were made. Before the time came for the three young
officers to go back to their duties they had the satisfaction of
seeing Mrs. Maynard and Mary settled in a pretty cottage near, and the
colliery in full work and prospering, the district employed and
contented. Mary had been pressed by the Fairburn family to take up her
abode with them, but had preferred to go into the cottage with her old
governess and friend. Yet she was overwhelmed with gratitude towards
the kindly couple.

CHAPTER X

"OUR OWN MEN, SIR!"

Marlborough was late in taking the field that year. Important matters
engaged his attention at home. He saw more clearly than ever that the
Whigs alone were the real supporters of him and his war plans. The
party even passed a resolution to the effect that they would not hear
of peace so long as a Bourbon ruled over Spain. Then there were the
in