p his gaze fixed
on the stonework upon a level with his nose, Fred raised his eyes, and
found that the Cavalier was regarding him with a pleasant, friendly
smile.

"I did not mean to affront you," he said; "I only thought it a pity that
such a stout lad as you should be on the opposite side."

"Thank you," said Fred, haughtily.

"I suppose we are enemies, are we not!"

Fred nodded.

"And next time we meet you will be trying to send the point of your
sword through me, or to ride me down, eh?"

"I suppose I shall try," said Fred, smiling in spite of himself, and
showing his white teeth.

"Ah, it's a pity. You're going wrong way, young man. Better come in
here, and fight for the king."

"Better stand up manfully for my own side, and not be a traitor,"
retorted Fred, hotly. "How dare you, standing there in safety, keep on
this wretched temptation?"

"Wounds and wonder!" cried the Cavalier, "what a fire-eater it is.
Here, I don't wonder that we are shut up helplessly here. I say,
Roundhead, will you have a glass of wine?"

"Keep your wine," said Fred. "I've come on business, not to talk and
drink."

At that moment, Sir Godfrey spoke to those about him, drawing back from
the window, and the conversational Cavalier followed, leaving Fred
sitting stiff and fretful, with all his moral quills set up, the more
full of offence that he believed Scarlett was still watching him.

As he sat there, assuming the most utter indifference, and gazing with a
solidity that was statuesque straight before him, he could hear a loud
buzzing of voices, following the firm deep tones of Sir Godfrey Markham,
who had evidently been laying the contents of the message before his
companion.

"Will they surrender?" thought Fred. "I hope they will. They are
debating the question. It would be a relief; and Scarlett Markham and
I--no, Scar and I," he said, mentally correcting himself--"might perhaps
be together again. If he would promise not to take up arms, I dare say
my father and General Hedley would let him off from being a prisoner if
I asked, and he could go with me to where poor Nat lies out in the wood,
and look after him."

"Huzza! God save the king!"

The shout and words came so suddenly that the little horse Fred rode
started and reared, and he was in the act of quieting it down, feeling
the while that his ambassage had been in vain, when the party defending
the Hall reappeared at the window.

"Youngster!" began Si