napkins on the end of a stick--that was a flag of truce, you know--
and all the rascal Roundheads had to come in, and we had to go out,
with only just what we could carry. My lady went in her coach with
Master George, because he was hurt, and the young ladies, and some of
the maids went home; but the most of us kept with my lady, to guard
her to go to his Honour and the King at Oxford. Father rode big
Severn, and mother was on a pillion behind him, with baby in her
arms, and I sat on a cushion in front."

After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her
kindred, but that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop
of horse, and there being no separate means of support for his wife
and children, they had followed the camp, a life that Emlyn had
evidently enjoyed, although the baby died of the exposure. She had
been a great pet and favourite with everybody, and no doubt well-
cared for even after the sad day when her mother had perished in the
slaughter at Naseby. Patience wondered what was to become of the
poor child, if her father never appeared to claim her; but it was no
time to bring this forward, for Steadfast, as soon as he had
swallowed his porridge, had to go off to finish his day's labour for
the lady of the manor, warning his sisters that they had better keep
as close as they could in the wood, and not let the cattle stray out
of their valley.

He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow
labourers running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The
Roundhead soldiers had taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and
all, as the property of a malignant, and were carrying them off to
their camp before the town.