k room, beneath which shone a line of light, and
turned the handle sharply. As he did so, there was a dull sound within,
and the light was extinguished.

"Open the door, father," whispered the boy, with his lips to the
keyhole. "It is I--Frank."

There was the dull tremor of a heavy step crossing the floor, the door
was unlocked, and the boy sprang forward in the darkness, the door was
closed and relocked, and he was clasped in a pair of strong arms.

"Oh, dad, dad, dad!" cried the lad, in a panting whisper.

"My own boy! Then you saw me this afternoon?"

"Yes, just a faint glimpse of you. Oh, father, father, it wasn't safe
for you to come back!"

"No, not very, my boy; but I couldn't stop away any longer. How is the
dear one?"

"Quite well--only she looks thin and pale, father. She's fretting so
because you are away."

"Hah!" ejaculated Sir Robert, in a long-drawn sigh. "I felt that she
must be, and that helped to draw me back. Heaven bless her!--Frank lad,
as you have found me out--But stop, did you tell her you had seen me?"

"I haven't seen her since, father; and if I had, I shouldn't have dared.
What would she think?"

"Bullets and bayonets, or worse, my boy. Quite right; spoken like the
brave, thoughtful lad you are growing. But it's very hard, Frank.
Don't you think you could manage to bring her over here--say this time
to-morrow evening?"

"Yes, father, easily," said Frank.

"My boy. Oh, if you knew how I long to see her again!"

"Yes, father," said Frank bitterly, "I could bring her, but for what?--
to see you arrested for coming back. It would be madness. There are
spies everywhere. I had to be so careful to get round here without
being followed."

Sir Robert groaned as he stood there in the darkness, holding his son by
his arms in a firm grip.

"I can't help it, father. I must tell you the truth," cried the boy
passionately.

"Yes, you are quite right, boy, and I'm weak and foolish to have
proposed such a thing. But it's hard, my lad--very, very hard."

"Don't I know, father?"

"Yes, yes, boy. But tell me, does she talk about me to you much?"

"She talks of nothing else, father. But listen; I'm going to petition
the King myself. I'm going to kneel to him, and beg him to give you
leave to return."

"You are, my boy?"

"Yes, father," cried Frank excitedly, "directly I get a chance."

"No, Frank, don't do that," said Sir Robert, rather sternly.

"You don't wish m