dently making for the great
entrance-door of the Hall.

"They've come back together," cried Fred as he ran; but before they
could reach the door, one of the horsemen had swung himself down, thrown
the reins to Nat, who was waiting, and walked up to the top of the
steps. Here he turned, and stood frowning for a few moments, while his
companion sat beating his boot with his whip so vigorously that the
horse kept starting and fidgeting about, making a plunge sufficient to
unseat a bad rider.

"Will you come in, Forrester?" said the dismounted man.

"What for?" was the stern reply. "To renew the argument, and have harsh
words said to me?"

"Nonsense, my dear Forrester," said the other. "I only spoke out as a
loyal man should, and I am sorry you took it so ill."

"And I only spoke out as a loyal man should."

"Loyal?"

"Yes, to his country, sir."

"Why, my dear Forrester--" began the dismounted man, angrily. "There, I
beg your pardon. I was a little heated. Come in, Forrester. Stay and
dine with me, and we can chat matters over coolly."

"Better not," said the mounted man, coldly. "Fred!"

"Yes, father."

"You were coming home with me?"

"No, father; I was going to stop with Scar for a bit."

"Humph! Better come home now, my boy. I think Sir Godfrey wishes to
talk to his son."

"I was not going to do anything of the kind, Forrester; but if you are
bent upon a division between us, I am not the man to baulk you."

"Very good, sir, very good. Then be it so."

"But it seems to me a great pity that two old friends should be divided,
and our boys, who have been like brothers, should be separated upon a
question about which you must feel, upon calm consideration, that you
are wrong."

"If I felt that I was wrong, Sir Godfrey Markham, I should at once
apologise; but I am not wrong."

"And our boys?"

"It is impossible for our boys to be friends, Sir Godfrey, until you
have apologised for what you have said."

"Apologised, Colonel Forrester! Why, sir, I commend myself for my
restraint. If it had been any other man than my oldest friend who had
dared to utter such disloyal thoughts against the king, I should have
struck him from his horse. Good day, sir, and I pray Heaven to place
better thoughts in your mind! Scarlett, my boy."

"Yes, father."

"Come here."

"Mayn't I shake hands with Fred Forrester first?"

"No. Yes. You boys have no quarrel. But it will be better that you
should k