"What news of the King?" asked Edmund, anxiously.

"Not seen since the flight? but--"

"And Lord Derby, Wilmot--"

"I cannot tell, I heard no names," said Rose, "only that the enemy's
cruelties are worse than ever."

Walter stood with his back against the table, gazing at his brother
and sister in mute consternation.

"I know!" cried Rose, suddenly: "the out-house in the upper field.
No one ever goes up into the loft but ourselves. You know, Walter,
where Eleanor found the kittens. Go thither, I will bring Edmund
food at night. Oh, consent, Edmund!"

"It will do! it will do!" cried Walter.

"Very well, it may spare my mother," said Edmund; and as footsteps
and voices were heard on the stairs, the two brothers hurried off
without another word, while Rose, trying to conceal her agitation,
undid the door, and admitted her two little sisters, who were asking
if they had not heard Walter's voice.

She scarcely attended to them, but, bounding upstairs to her mother's
room, flung her arms round her neck, and poured into her ear her
precious secret. The tremour, the joy, the fears, the tears, the
throbbings of the heart, and earnest prayers, may well be imagined,