d trust thee, my Hester."'

'Will they be long in prison, dost thou think?' asked Dorcas, with a
tremor in her voice. She was always an anxious-minded little girl, and
inclined to look on the gloomy side of things, whereas Hester was
sunshine itself.

'Who can say?' answered Hester, and again even her bright face
clouded. 'The Justices are sure to tender to them the oath, but since
they follow Him who commanded, "Swear not at all," how can they take
it?'

'Then, if they refuse, they will be said to be out of the King's
protection, and the Justices and the gaolers may do with them as they
will,' added Peter doggedly.

At these words Hester, seeing that Dorcas looked very sorrowful and
almost ready to cry, checked Peter suddenly, and said, 'At any rate,
we can but hope for the best. And now we must hasten, or we shall be
late for Meeting.'

'Meeting?' Dorcas looked up in surprise. 'I thought thou saidst that
all the Friends had been taken.'

'All the men and women, yes,' answered Hester; 'but we children are
left. We know what our Fathers and Mothers would have us do.'

Here Peter broke in, 'Yes, of course, Dorcas, we must go to show them
that Friends are not cowards, and that we will keep up our Meetings
come what may. Dost thou not mind what friend Thomas Curtis' wife,
Mistress Nan, has often told us of her father, the Sheriff of Bristol?
How he was hung before his own door, because men said he was
endeavouring to betray the city to Prince Rupert, and thus serve his
king in banishment. Shall we be less loyal than he?'

'Loyal to our King, Dorcas,' added Hester gently.

Dorcas hesitated no longer.

'Thou art right, Hester,' she answered, 'and Peter, thou art right
too. We will go all together. I had forgotten. Of course children as
well as grown-up people can wait upon God.'

* * * * *

The children arrived at the Friends' usual meeting place, only to find
it locked and strongly guarded. They went on, undismayed, to Friend
Lamboll's orchard, but, there also, two heavy padlocks, sealed with
the King's seal, were upon the green gate. An old goody from a cottage
hard by waved them away. 'Be off, children! Here is no place for you,'
she said; adding not unkindly, 'your parents were taken near here
yester eve, and the officers of the law are still prowling round. This
orchard is sure to be one of the first places they will visit.'

Then seeing the tired look on Dorcas' face, as