eople can and will
help him?"

"I feel sure, mother," replied Frank. "Take the message Drew brings to
you, and see what my father says."

"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "I feel that they will help, for these
people are staunch to each other. They helped the Pretender to escape."

"It was not the Pretender, mother," whispered Frank; "it was Drew's
father. And he has vowed that he will not leave England and seek safety
until my father is safe."

"Then Heaven bless him!" cried Lady Gowan, passionately. "I had my
doubts as to whether it would be wise to bear his message to your
father, but I am contented now. Leave me, my dearest boy. I want
strength to bear the interview this afternoon, and the doctor told me
that, unless I rested till the last moment, I should not have enough to
carry me through. But you will be here?"

"I will be here," he said tenderly; and once more they parted, Frank
going across to Captain Murray, and telling him of his mother's visit.

"It is too much for her to bear," he said sadly. "Surely she has not
the strength!"

"You don't know my mother's determination," said the boy proudly. "Oh
yes, she will go."

"Heaven give her the fortitude to bear the shock!" muttered the captain.
"Can I do anything--see her there?" he asked.

"No, no," said Frank hastily. "She must go alone. The carriage will
take her and wait. But you; how is the side?"

"Oh, I have no time to think about a little pain, my boy. Frank, we are
all trying what we can do by a petition to his Majesty. The colonel
will present it when it is ready. He must--he shall show mercy this
time; so cheer up, boy. No man in the army has so many friends as your
father, and the King will see this by the names attached to our prayer."

But these words gave little encouragement, and Frank felt that in his
heart he had more faith in some bold attempt made by his father's
friends. He thought, moreover, from Drew's manner, that there must be
something more in progress than he divined, and going back to his
duties--which he did or left undone without question now--he waited
impatiently for the afternoon.

But never had the hours dragged along so slowly, and it seemed a
complete day when, at a few minutes before two, he went round to his
mother's apartments, and found one of the private carriages with the
servants in plain liveries waiting at the door.

On ascending to his mother's room, he found her seated there, dressed
a