"The Colonel and our father will be made responsible were Andrew and I
to escape. Were you to be suspected of assisting us, they would not
even spare you, Alice."

"But were I betrothed to you I would urge that as my plea," said Alice,
in a trembling voice. "I know what were your intentions, and if you
will even now ask me to marry you, I will consent, and I shall then have
a right to plead that I acted according to the dictates of duty, or
should you not after all escape, I should be able to exert myself as I
best can to obtain your pardon."

A fearful struggle took place in Stephen's heart. He had long loved the
girl who pleaded with him, and that love prompted him to endeavour to
save her from dangers to which she might be exposed; but hope triumphed.
Without further hesitation he pledged his troth to her; still he could
not bring himself to desert his companions and to compromise the Colonel
and his family, which he knew he should do were he and his brother to
make their escape from the house. Andrew had been sleeping soundly all
this time. He awoke him and told him of the arrangements that had been
made to enable them once more to get free from the clutches of their
foes. Two spare horses, Alice told them, would be in waiting outside
the grounds at midnight, with a guide to conduct them northward. They
would be many miles away before their flight would be discovered. By
remaining concealed during the following day they might, by riding all
night, get beyond the counties where the rebellion had existed. Andrew,
according to his custom, considered the matter calmly over.

"I agree with you, Stephen," he said; "we must not attempt it." And he
used the same arguments which his brother had already done. "Let us
remain and brave the consequences; we are deeply grateful to Mrs
Tufnell."

Both spoke so lightly that Alice, though she bitterly mourned their
decision, was won over to agree that the course to be pursued was the
right one. That they would have succeeded was doubtful, and before she
left the room the sound of the sergeant's voice as he roused up his men
to change the guard reached their ears, and she had barely time to
escape from the room when the heavy tread of the soldiers' feet was
heard coming along the passage. The guard at the door started up, not
so completely overcome as might have been expected. The sergeant looked
into the room, to find both his prisoners sleeping apparently in their