rfectly contented with this Dutch William we have got
over us, and do not show any wish to have back their rightful king. But
still we must not despair, Master Pearson."

"I am the last man to do that either," answered the stranger; "and if we
cannot find them on this side of the border, there will be no lack on
the other. It will not cost much labour to arouse the Highlanders,
while some of the best soldiers in the country, though they refuse to
join us, will stand neutral, not for love of the Stuarts, just the
contrary, but because William did not treat King James as Cromwell and
his party treated his father."

"What say you, Master Pearson? Do you think you could arouse the people
in the fen-country? You might raise and drill an army in those wilds
without the Government knowing any thing about the matter."

"If the people had any spirit, it could be done," said Master Pearson;
"but they are too dull and stupid, I fear, to be aroused by any motive,
and I suspect they care little what king sits on the throne."

"I am afraid, then, we must be content with small beginnings," said the
Squire. "A good time will come if we wait for it; and if William dies,
though I would have no hand in hastening his death, there would be no
doubt that the people would be glad enough to get King James back
again."

"As to that, his life is as good as James's," observed Pearson; "and if
we have not a strong party in readiness to take advantage of any thing
that may occur, I fear the Puritan Nonconformists generally will still
be too powerful in the country to allow the return of a Catholic
sovereign. We must go on recruiting, Squire, and work away among
gentles and simples till we have increased the strength of our party,
and then will be the time to strike a blow, which may set things to
rights again."

"Perhaps it may be so," observed the Squire musingly; "but we must be
cautious, Master Pearson; too many honest men have lost their heads for
want of that quality, and I have no desire to lose mine or my estate
either, which a plot of this sort, if discovered, would seriously
imperil. Mind, all I say is, that we must be cautious, and wait
patiently till we can gain strength; and by-the-bye there is a young man
I wish to win over, a fine, spirited lad, and I'm sure if we can gain
him he will prove valuable to the cause. Should you fall in with him,
Master Pearson, I must commend him to your care. We have pressed him
here pret