was very horrible," said Frank, with his brow all in
lines.

"Bah! I don't believe you felt like that. What a chance! What a time
to have! All the luck coming to you, and I'm obliged to lead the life
of a palace lapdog, when I want to be a soldier fighting for my king."

"Wait till you get older," said Frank. "I wanted to be a man last
night."

"Why, you were a man. It was splendid!" cried Andrew enthusiastically.

"I wasn't a man, and it wasn't splendid," said Frank sadly. "I felt all
right then; but when I woke this morning, I seemed to see myself
standing there in our drawing-room, with my sword in one hand and the
big silver candlestick in the other, and I felt that I must have looked
very ridiculous, and that the young officer and the men with him must
have laughed at me."

"Er-r-err!" growled Andrew; "I haven't patience with you, Franky.
You're too modest by half--modest as a great girl. No, you're not; no
girl could have behaved like you did. I only wish I had had the chance
to be there. Ridiculous indeed! Very ridiculous to help your father to
escape as you did, 'pon my honour. Oh yes, very ridiculous! I want to
be as ridiculous as that every day of my life; and if it isn't playing
the man--"

"Yes, that's it," said Frank gloomily,--"playing the man, when one's
only a boy."

"Bah! Hold your tongue, stupid. You don't know yet what you did do.
But, I say, that was ridiculous, if you like."

"What was?" said Frank, starting.

"Climbing up the roof to hide the rope, and stuffing it down the
next-door chimney. I say: I wonder what the people thought."

Frank smiled now.

"Well, that does seem comic."

"It was glorious. But they'll never know. They'll think the sweeps
must have left it when the chimney was last swept. But I suppose you've
heard about Lieutenant Brayley's report?"

"No, not a word. I went as soon as I was dressed to see how my mother
was."

"Oh, I heard from Murray. He reported that it was a false alarm, and
that Sir Robert could not have been there, for he had the house well
watched back and front, and all the approaches to the houses adjoining.
Oh, I do enjoy getting the better of the other side. And, I say, every
one's delighted that he escaped, if he was there; but I hope he won't
get taken. Tell him to mind, Franky, for every place swarms with spies,
and that it's next to impossible to get out of the country. Oh, I
wouldn't have him taken for all the wor