nged when Alethea entered the room. She
showed far more courage than her father had done on hearing of the
discovery of the plot, though anxious about his safety. She at once
declared her intention of accompanying him.

"That cannot be, my child!" said Mr Harwood. "You know not the
difficulties and dangers I may have to go through; and though you might
be willing to share them, they must of necessity be greatly increased
should you be with me. We have friends in this neighbourhood who will,
I am sure, take charge of you. With them you will live happily and
securely; and I trust that in a short time, when this matter has blown
over, I may be able to return once more to England."

Jack's heart beat violently when he heard these remarks of Mr Harwood.

"Oh, yes!" he exclaimed; "I feel sure that my mother and sisters will
gladly afford all the protection Miss Harwood requires. I wish that I
could accompany her to Nottingham. Could I not do it, and rejoin you,
Mr Harwood?"

"What, and run the risk of being apprehended yourself?" exclaimed the
Squire. "No; I will send Alethea under the escort of two trusty grooms
with her tirewoman, and will throw myself on the kindness of your
family. Already I am deeply indebted to them, and shall but add to the
obligation."

The Squire spoke with some hesitation. Even at that moment his
aristocratic feelings influenced him, and he felt as if he was honouring
the Deane family by thus confiding his daughter to their charge. Some
time had thus passed when the Squire recollected that Jack must require
food.

"It would never do to set forward without being prepared," he observed.
"Take your breakfast with Alethea, while I go and put together such
valuables as it may be prudent for me to carry; and you, my daughter,
will take the remainder, for I know not, should I be informed against,
what will be the fate of the old Grange and of the estate my fathers
have held for so many centuries."

Jack, as he sat by the side of Alethea endeavouring to eat his
breakfast, in vain tried to utter the sentiments with which his heart
was full. Whenever he attempted to speak he hesitated and stammered,
and his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Alethea was more
serious, naturally, than he had ever seen her before.

"I foresaw that it might come to this," she said, at last, to Jack.
"But, do you know, I rather glory in suffering for what I believe to be
a right cause!"

"But oh, Miss