within his soul. He was dressed soberly and
richly, with a sword at his side, in great riding-boots splashed to the
knees with mud, with his cloak thrown back; and he carried his great
brimmed hat in his hand. All this was as it might have been in Derby,
though, perhaps, his dress was a shade more dignified than that in which
she had ever seen him. But the change was in his face and bearing; he
bore himself like a man, and a restrained man; and there was besides
that subtle air which her woman's eyes could see, but which even her
woman's wit could not properly describe.

She made room for him to sit beside her; and then Father Campion's voice
spoke:

"These are the gentlemen, then," he said. "And two more are not yet
come. Gentlemen--" he bowed. "And which is Captain Fortescue?"

A big man, distinguished from the rest by a slightly military air, and
by a certain vividness of costume and a bristling feather in his hat,
bowed back to him.

"We have met once before, Mr.--Mr. Edmonds," he said. "At Valladolid."

Father Campion smiled.

"Yes, sir; for five or ten minutes; and I was in the same room with your
honour once at the Duke of Guise's.... And now, sir, who are the rest of
your company?"

The others were named one by one; and Marjorie eyed each of them
carefully. It was her business to know them again if ever they should
meet in the north; and for a few minutes the company moved here and
there, bowing and saluting, and taking their seats. There were still a
couple of men who were not yet come; but these two arrived a few minutes
later; and it was not until she had said a word or two to them all, and
Father Campion had named her and her good works, to them, that she found
herself back again with Robin in a seat a little apart.

"You look very well," she said, with an admirable composure.

His eyes twinkled.

"I am as weary as a man can be," he said. "We have ridden since before
dawn.... And you, and your good works?"

Marjorie explained, describing to him something of the system by which
priests were safeguarded now in the north--the districts into which the
county was divided, and the apportioning of the responsibilities among
the faithful houses. It was her business, she said, to receive messages
and to pass them on; she had entertained perhaps a dozen priests since
the summer; perhaps she would entertain him, too, one day, she said.

* * * * *

The ordeal was far light