I shrugged. "What would you? Has she not taken her affair into her own
hands?"

"God knows how much or little she has had to say about it," said he.
"But I mean to know, too, before I put my name on any company roll." We
were among the trees by this, moving off for safety's sake, since the
day was coming; and he broke off short to wheel and face me as one who
would throttle a growling cur before it has a chance to bite. "We know
the worst of each other now, Jack, and we must stand to our compact. Let
us see her safe beyond peradventure of a doubt; then I'm with you to
fight the redcoats single-handed, if you like. I know what you will
say--that the country calls us now more than ever; but there must needs
be some little rallying interval after all this disaster, and--"

"Have done, Richard," said I. "Set the pace and mayhap I can keep step
with you. What do you propose?"

"This; that we go to Witherby Hall and get speech with Mistress Madge,
if so be--"

"Stay a moment; who are these Witherbys?"

"A dyed-in-the-wool Tory family seated some ten miles across the line in
York district. True, 'tis a rank Tory hotbed over there, and we shall
run some risk."

"Never name risk to me if you love me, Richard Jennifer!" I broke in.
"What is your plan?"