It was far into the night, or rather near morning, when we reached our
journey's end. My father cautiously admitted us; my mother received the
fugitives with the tenderest affection. A hot supper awaited them, after
partaking which they were thankful to retire to the loft; and not even
the children were to know they were there, and the youngest of our two
servants had been sent to her home; for my father told me that the
dragoons were expected to pay us a visit shortly, when the premises
would doubtless be ransacked; "and since your uncle has borne the
journey better than might have been expected," said he, "the sooner
we can get him out of the country the better."

He then told me what plans he had been devising for this purpose, and
that if my uncle were equal to it on the morrow, I should set him and my
aunt on their way to a certain point, which, if they reached in safety,
they would then be cared for.

"The greatest difficulty," said he, "is about a passport; but that may
possibly be procured on the frontier, for the great object of government
seems to be to chase all our godly ministers out of the kingdom, that
their flocks, deprived of their strengthening exhortations, may fall an
easier prey."

While he thus spoke, a noise at the door, as if some one were hammering
on it with his fist, made us start.

"Who's there?" said my father, without withdrawing the bolt.

"Your neighbor Romilly," returned the other; and we, knowing his voice,
let him in.