ople's dread and agitation.
However, the crying was quiet now, and the sounds of tumult at the farm
were stifled by the trees, so that after a time--which seemed terribly
long--the party emerged into an open meadow, whence they could see the
gate leading to the high road, and beyond that the roof of Mrs
Pearson's house.

But something else was to be seen far up the road. There was the flash
of the sun from helmets! The Yeomanry were coming!

"There's papa!" cried Mrs Carbonel. "Papa in his pretty silver dress.
Run on, run on, Mary, and see him."

Mary was let down, still drawing long sobs as she half ran, half toddled
on, allowing herself to be pulled by Tirzah Todd's free hand, while her
mother sped on to the gate, just in time for the astonished greeting of
one of the little troop.

"Mrs Carbonel! What?"

And the next moment her husband was off his horse and by her side with
anxious inquiries.

"Yes, yes, dear Edmund! We are all safe. Good Tirzah came to warn us.
Make haste! They are at the farm. We shall be at Mrs Pearson's.
She," (pointing to Tirzah) "sent to fetch Sophy from school. She'll be
there. Here are the children all safe."

"Papa, papa," cried little Mary, feeling his silver-laced collar, and
stroking his face as he kissed her.

And from that time she was comforted though he had to leave her again at
once. She had felt a father's arm.

"Tirzah Todd!" exclaimed Captain Carbonel, "I shall never forget what
you have done for us. Never!"

Tirzah curtsied, but said, "You'll be good to my man, sir?"

It was but a moment's halt ere Captain Carbonel rode on to overtake the
rest of the troop, who, on hearing that the outrage was really taking
place, were riding on rapidly.

Mrs Carbonel had not far to go before reaching the hospitable farm,
where Mrs Pearson came out to receive her with many a "Dear, dear!" and
"Dear heart!" and entreaty that she and the dear children would make
themselves at home.

But Sophy was not there, and had not been heard of, and Mrs Carbonel,
in her anxiety, could not rest on the sofa in the parlour, after she had
persuaded little Mary into eating her long-delayed dinner of some mutton
hastily minced for her, and had seen her safely asleep and cuddling a
kitten. Mrs Pearson was only too happy to have the baby to occupy her
long-disused wicker cradle, and Tirzah had rushed off to the scene of
action as soon as she had seen the lady safely housed.

CHAPTER