his
mouth.

"We poor Papists are in trouble again," he said. "Mistress Manners, you
must let us stay here all night, if you will; and we will be off early
in the morning. There is a party coming to us from Derby--to-morrow or
next day: it is not known which."

"Why, yes! And what party?" said Marjorie, quietly enough, though she
must have guessed its character. The smile left his mouth.

"It is my son that is behind it," he said. "I had wondered we had not
had news of him! There is to be a general search for seminarists in the
High Peak" (he glanced at Robin), "by order of my lord Shrewsbury. Your
namesake, mistress, Mr. John Manners, and our friend Mr. Columbell, are
commissioned to search; and Mr. Fenton and myself are singled out to be
apprehended immediately. Thomas knows that I am at Padley, and that Mr.
Eyre will come in there for Candlemas, the day after to-morrow; in that
I recognize my son's knowledge. Well, I will dispatch my man who brought
the news to Mr. Eyre to bid him to avoid the place; and we two, Mr.
Alban and myself, will make our way across the border into Stafford."

"There are none others coming to Padley to-morrow?" asked Marjorie.

"None that I know of. They will come in sometimes without warning; but I
cannot help that. Mr. Fenton will be at Tansley: he told me so."

"How did the news come?" asked Robin.

"It seems that the preacher Walton, in Derby, hath been warned that we
shall be delivered to him two days hence. It was his servant that told
one of mine. I fear he will be a-preparing his sermons to us, all for
nothing."

He smiled bitterly again. Robin could see the misery in this man's heart
at the thought that it was his own son who had contrived this. Mr.
Thomas had been quiet for many months, no doubt in order to strike the
more surely in his new function as "sworn man" of her Grace. Yet he
would seem to have failed.

"We shall not get our candles then, this year either," smiled Mr.
Thomas. "Lanterns are all that we shall have."

* * * * *

There was not much time to be lost. Luggage had to be packed, since it
would not be safe for the three to return until at least two or three
weeks had passed; and Marjorie, besides, had to prepare a list of places
and names that must be dealt with on their way--places where word must
be left that the hunt was up again, and names of particular persons
that were to be warned. Mr. Garlick and Mr. Ludlam were in