in the dwelling of old Margery when we entered it?"

"Marry! what is it to thee where I was," answered Francis, desiring not
to get the dame into trouble.

"Be not too pert, sir page. I wrung from the old woman that thou wert,
after I found that we o'erslept. Now, boy, was it due to thee or to the
witch that we slept so long?"

"To me, master," replied the girl boldly. "Upon my shoulders cast all
blame. Impute nothing to the old woman. I did all, for I knew that I must
distance thee to warn my father. And thou wert outstripped! Thou wert
close after the game but he took to soil, and the track is lost, good
master."

"Crow on, my bantam," cried Wainwright angrily. "Thou wilt sing another
tune when Sir Francis Walsingham hath thee. And mark me, sirrah! The
track will be regained, and the game brought to cover ere thou dost
reach the Tower. Then upon Tower Hill thou canst behold its breaking
up."

Francis turned pale as death at this reference to what would be her
father's fate if taken.

"Ah, that hipped thee, young cock! Dost ken what happens to traitors?
'Twill be thy fate as well as thy father's. Dream on't, master! Now must
you and your mother take horse for London."

"To-day?" said Francis faintly, a sense of weakness coming over her. "Oh,
sir, not to-day, beseech you. I have ridden so much. I am so tired!"

"This day shalt thou start," said Wainwright rejoicing with all the might
of a small man in the power over another. "No pleading will avail thee.
Thou must go!"

"As you will then," answered Francis wearily, though every muscle in her
tired body rebelled at this further tax upon her strength.

And so the long, weary journey to London was again begun.

CHAPTER XXIII

IN THE TOWER OF LONDON

It was a dreary journey. The motive which had sustained the girl in her
former trip from the city to her home was lacking. The fatigue incident
to travel, the unjust reception of her by her father, with the
doubtfulness of his escape, and the uncertainty of what was to become of
her mother and herself, now bore upon her with such overwhelming force as
to almost crush even her brave spirit. Lady Stafford suffered a like
mental anguish, and so, on account of the weakness of the two prisoners,
the guard was compelled to return to the city by slow stages.

Upon their entrance within the gates they found that the whole city was
in an uproar, caused by the apprehension of Anthony Babington and several
other