o we thought." The constables exchanged glances and broad smiles.

"He's not here, I tell you," said Willy, obviously losing his
self-command as he became excited.

"Then go and fetch him."

"I would not if I could; I could not if I would. So be off."

"We might ask you for the welcome that is due to the commissioners of
a sheriff."

"You _take_ it. But you'll be better welcome to take yourselves after
it."

"Listen, young master, and let it be to your profit. We want Ralph
Ray, sometime captain in the rebel army of the late usurper in
possession. We hold a warrant for his arrest. Here it is." And the man
tapped with his fingers a paper which he drew from his belt.

"I tell you once more he is not here," said Willy.

"And we tell you again, Go and fetch him, and God send you may find
him! It will be better for all of you," added the constable, glancing
about the room.

Willy was now almost beyond speech with excitement. He walked
nervously across the kitchen, while the constable, with the utmost
calmness of voice and manner, opened his warrant and read:--

"These are to will and require you forthwith to receive into your
charge the body of Ralph Ray, and him detain under secure
imprisonment--"

"You've had the warrant a long while to no purpose, I believe," Willy
broke in. "You may keep it still longer."

The constable took no further note of the interruption than to pause
in his reading, and begin again in the same measured tones:--

"We do therefore command, publish, and declare that the said Ralph
Ray, having hitherto withheld himself from judgment, shall within
fourteen days next after personally deliver himself to the High
Sheriff of Carlisle, under pain of being excepted from any pardon or
indemnity both for his life and estate."

Then the constable calmly folded up his paper, and returned it to its
place in his belt. Willy now stood as one transfixed.

"So you see, young man, it will be best for you all to go and fetch
him."

"And what if I cannot?" asked Willy. "What then will happen?"

"Outlawry; and God send that that be all!"

"And what then?"

"The confiscation to the Crown of these goods and chattels."

"How so?" said Rotha, coming forward. "Mrs. Ray is still alive, and
this is a brother."

"They must go elsewhere, young mistress."

"You don't mean that you can turn the poor dame into the road?" said
Rotha eagerly.

The man shrugged his shoulders. His companions grinned, and s