I cannot hold my peace when true and noble men are risking
their lives to fight for this false king," said Maud.

"I will not fight," quietly spoke Master Drury. "I will go back with you
to Hayslope."

"Prithee, but you will see Harry before you leave Oxford?" said Maud, a
faint colour stealing into her cheek as she spoke.

Master Drury was deeply moved. It was evident he was longing to see his
son, but he said in a faint voice, "Nay, nay, I dare not see him. Mary
Stanhope has spread the report that I have cast him off as a traitor
rebel, and my loyalty to the King would be suspected if I were to see
him now;" and he heaved a deep sigh as he spoke.

"But it is true that you think the King false?" said Maud. "Harry did
the same, and avowed it."

Master Drury winced at the implied reproach. "Nay, nay, I cannot go so
far as that," he said; "if I were I should be a rebel."

"Then you must be false to yourself to _seem_ true to the King," said
Maud, boldly; "and that is why there are so many true and honest men
among the rebels, and why they are so strong. It is not their hatred of
oppression only, nor their wish to save England's liberties, as they
say; but they cannot do otherwise if they would be true to
themselves--true to God, who has said, 'Fear God,' first, and then
'Honour the king.'"

Maud was speaking for Harry, and that gave her courage, or she would
never dared to have said so much to her guardian. But it was all in
vain. Family honour demanded the sacrifice of principle--at least, so
thought Master Drury--and he would not allow Maud to seek an interview
with Harry, or claim acquaintance with the all but executed traitor.

CHAPTER XI.

MYSTERIES.

As soon as Maud had sufficiently rested she returned to Hayslope with
Master Drury, who, now that he had made up his mind to do so, was all
impatient to return home. His visit to Oxford had been a very painful
one, for his faith in the King had been completely broken, and yet he
had been forced to hear of his son's condemnation to an ignominious
death, for principles he began dimly to see were right.

The last lingering remnants of loyalty forbade his seeking to see that
son, as much as the fear of offending his son-in-law, and yet he longed
to fold Harry in his arms and look in his face once more.

When the travellers reached Hayslope they found the villagers in a
wildly excited state. Many of their relatives who had been fighting at
Naseby were