en, haven't they?"

Rupert agreed, a little impatiently. "But Phil," he added, "what does
all this mean? What do you want me to do?"

"Well," said Philip, "I can't tell you everything; but to-night it may
be necessary for some of us to ride to Portallan, and one to stay
behind, and I thought I would try to make it easier for you to be the
one to stay behind, that's all. It must be you, I'm afraid, poor old
fellow!"

The reader paused again.

"I LIKE THAT BIT ABOUT SPELLING," SAID JACK.

"I THINK BARBARA AND PHILIP WERE VERY LUCKY," SAID ROBERT. "THERE'S NO
FUN LIKE THAT NOW. WY IS ALL THE FUN IN THE PAST?"

"I THINK IT'S FUN TO GO FOR A CARAVAN-TOUR," SAID MISS REDSTONE; "AND
THAT'S IN THE PRESENT."

"OH, YES," SAID ROBERT, "THAT'S FUN, NO DOUBT; BUT IT DOESN'T COMPARE
WITH FIGHTING AGAINST ROUNDHEADS."

"I THINK BARBARA WAS MOST HORRIBLY LUCKY," SAID HESTER, "BECAUSE, OF
COURSE, THE STRANGER WAS--"

"HUSH!" SAID THE AUTHOR; AND SHE BEGAN TO READ ONCE MORE.

The day wore on slowly. Barbara did her best to go through the
household duties naturally, but the tension was severe. She was
perpetually conscious of a fear that, after all, in spite of his
confidence in his skill, the stranger might have been tracked and
pursued.

She had, indeed, in the peace of the afternoon, but just dismissed the
suspicion, when the white face of Philip appearing suddenly at the door
of the library, where she was sitting, brought back all her tremors.

"Roundheads!" he gasped.

Her heart stood still. "Oh, if father were here!" was all she could
murmur moaningly, as the clatter of hoofs rung out in the courtyard.

A minute later old Digger tottered in shaking like a reed, followed by
an officer and three soldiers. Barbara rose to meet them, biting her
lips to repress her emotion "What is it?" she inquired coldly.

"Guard the doors and the windows! said the Captain to his men, ignoring
her. He looked round the room, and then condescended to reply.

"We are seeking a rebel," he said. "He has been traced to this
neighbourhood, and it would be natural for him to seek hospitality
here. The Myddeltons are fond of such dirt."

"This roof shelters no rebels," said Barbara simply.

"Colonel Myddelton, this doddering old fool tells me," said the
Captain, indicating Digger, "is away."

"Clearly," said Barbara, "or your language would be more guarded."

"And no one has come seeking refuge?" the Captain pursued, adding, to
Bar