irmness. "Wife,
when the country calls for the help of her son, he must give it freely.
If your boy is needed in his country's service, he will have to go."

Fred heard these words, and went slowly and thoughtfully away--
thoughtfully, for his head was in a whirl--the coming of his father's
military friend--his father's old life as a soldier--and these hints
about civil war.

"I don't think I should mind," he said to himself, "not if Scar went
too. He and I could get on so well together. Of course we should be
too young for regular soldiers, but we should soon grow older."

Then he began to recall different things of which he had heard and read,
about youths going off to the war in olden times to be esquires, and
after deeds of valour to become belted knights who had won their spurs.

Fred's was not a romantic nature, for that night, quite late, after he
had gone up to bed, he sat at his window looking out at the starlit sky.
And as he gazed all the thoughts of the evening came back to make him
burst into a derisive laugh.

"It's all nonsense," he said; "knights and squires never did half the
things they say. And if we had a war, and I had to go, I'm afraid it
would be all rough and different to life here at home. But if Scar went
too, I should not mind. They want all the men at such a time as this.
Samson would have to go, and Nat, and no end of the farm lads about."

Fred rose from his seat, and closed the window softly, for fear that he
should be heard, and at last lay down, but not to sleep, for his young
brain was excited, and a feeling of awe came over him as he began
thinking of her who was sleeping only a few yards away.

"If father goes and takes me with him, and there is a terrible war, what
will my mother say?"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.

"Godfrey!"

"Hush, my darling; think of the children. Be firm. Be firm."

"But it is too horrible."

"Is this my dear wife speaking?" said Sir Godfrey, gravely, as he took
his dame's hand.

"Yes," said Lady Markham, excitedly. "Would you have me sit silent when
such a demand is made?"

Sir Godfrey's brow was knit, and his nether lip quivered as he heard his
wife's words, while Lil, who seemed alarmed, crept to her brother's side
and held his hand.

"The demand is just, wife," said Sir Godfrey, at last. "I am a soldier,
sworn to help my king."

"You were a soldier once, love," interposed Lady Markham.

"I am a soldier,