Lady Patience Gascoyne. Those who knew them in the days of their happiness said they seemed more

; though Philip was only a year or two younger than Patience, she had all a mother's fondness

ld upon him. He knew that she would act wisely and prudently for him. For the first time for many

! there! there!" as he tried to encourage his horses in the heavy task of pulling th

e horses going step by step urged on by the coachman and by Timothy, who rode close at their heads, spu

old her that her brother had succeeded in reaching this secluded corner of Derbyshire, and was now

aried, at times hopeful, she had borne the terrible fatigue of this lumbering journey from Stretton Hall, along the

e coach had passed some fifty yards from the forge, Patience had leaned out of the window

of Timothy waiting some hundred yards further on, then he had retraced his st

e said to the driver, "we may

, grasping the smith's hand ea

e knows your ladyship h

her and sister were lock

, dear Patience!" was all

er the unruly curls from the white, moist forehead. He looked haggard and careworn, although hi

t she could get to him, that they could talk things over, that she could do something for him and with him

on," he said at last-"

ou did, I think. Sir Humphrey Challoner

t those attainted b

she would not break down, now that he n

r tiny hands in his own, and looking firmly, stead

s all so hard, so horrible, and 'tis Heaven

l-advised to cross the border at all, and in the Midlands no one cares about the Stuarts now. But that's all ancient history," he added with a

un away, Phili

ward," he added, while a blush of

, n

ou know," he said with a quaint boyish smile, "I was never very good at saying 'Na

eferred to

owardly,

derness and her conviction fighting an even battle

himself for that same folly. "You were

no

one to advise me,

ey? Then it

quiver in her voice; a note of deep anxiety, of almost hysteric

phrey Challoner a

e me to join his standard, that he would demand s

s,

me to put two or three counties between mys

hough

words she uttered. Even Philip, absorbed as he w

hfully. "I fancy, little sister," he added with his boyish sm

, don't spe

y n

whether to tell him of the fears, the suspicions which the mention of Sir Humphrey Challoner'

ad left the Hall without a message, without

lt the tender reproach, and

have helped you. There was no disgrace in refusing to join a doome

ardice and my folly. But even now I cannot understand how my name became mixed up with those of the rebels. S

he spoke the look of involuntary alarm in

He had sent for her because he wanted her, and she was here to do for him, to help

ip," she said with a c

ck gesture he tore open the rough, woollen shirt he wore, and from beneath it drew a packet of letters. Not only

y have not left my body day or night ever since I first understood my positi

, Ph

he begs me to join the Pretender's standard. Here's another from Kilmarnock-that was after the retreat from Derby-he upbraids me for holding aloof. I was in hiding at Nottingham then, but they knew where I was, and w

om him one by one, glanced at them, then quietly folded each precious piece of paper, and tied the packet together again. Her hand

ll this sooner!" she

h that escaped her lips for h

Lovat's letter," said

f indulgence in her gentle smile. "We won't speak o

ing off with an effort of will his fever

had dealt him one of those cruel blows with which she sometimes strikes the

y trust, to whom he dared disclose his place of temporary refuge, or confide a message for his sister. Treachery was in the air; he suspected everyo

e sheltering roof of honest Stich. I have been branded as a traitor by Act of Parliament, my life is forfeit, and it is even a

't, dear!"

as not such an abject coward as I seemed.

. Now, tell me, you wish me to

ad as quickly as possible. Once I am caught they will give me no chance of proving my innocence. I have

do," she repli

who do you think

er husband has just been app

tte was always fond of me. Sh

write to her. I'd ta

an you

y. The horses must be put up. We

ussed these few details as if life or d

entirely shaken off the almost hysterical

by John Stich's cautious voic

but there's a coach coming up the road from Hartingt

ting

exclamation simultaneously. He in

think you?" she aske

occasion to come down these God-forsaken roads. But they are some way off yet," he added reassurin

er agitation, but it was her tur

I ... I mistrust that man, Philip ... foolishly perhaps, and

ll take his driver some time yet to walk down the incline, and then up again to the cross-roads. 'Tis a mile and a half for sur

evidently, for sh

n, for a few hours, for the sake of

should say, my lad

resh horses there, and

ive. 'Tis only a country inn. But they'd give your horses and men a feed and

ul face which looked so pale and weary. "You must rest,

way," she said with a sl

ch, "and your horses could never reach Wirksworth without a lo

tended one tiny hand to the faithful smith. "I trust you

d John, whose kindly eyes had dropped a tear over the gracious ha

-night. I could not bear

the Heath, your ladys

o rob me of my letters," she said eagerly. "But I'll put up at the Moorhen, John. We

possible way. Back here to the cross-

y, clinging to Stretton, "at sunset mayhap. I'll

d as he held her closely, closely to his heart

it ready when I return, and perhaps write out your own petiti

clung to him, hating to part

rust nobody but John Stich. Any man may prove an enemy," she added with

brave to the end. Stich was urging her to hurry. After all she would see Philip again bef

oyne entered her coach at the cross-roads, where Mistress Betty had b

Hartington Road, and begun the weary ascent up to the blacksmith's forge, Lady Patienc