"If the young dog would have spoken," began the corporal, but somehow
he did not like the look of Blane's iron bar, and thought it best to
look up at the sun, and discover that it was time to depart if the
party were to be in time for roll-call. As it was a private
marauding speculation, it might not be well to have complaints made
to Captain Venn, who never sanctioned plunder nor unnecessary
violence. Even Jeph had to march off, and Steadfast, who had no mind
to be pitied, nor asked by the neighbours what was the real fact, had
picked up his spade and jerkin, and was out of sight while the
villagers were watching the soldiers away.

The first thing he did was to give thanks in heart that he had been
aided thus far not to betray his trust, and then to feel that
Corporal Dodd's flogging was a far severer matter than the worst
chastisement he had ever received from his father, even when he kept
Jeph's secret about the stolen apples. Putting on his coat was
impossible, and he was so stiff and sore that he could not hope to
conceal his condition from Patience.

At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one
of the ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell
Patience that the soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph
standing by not saying one word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor,
poor!" and Rusha burst into tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn
said "Just what comes of going among the rascal Roundheads," and
Patience looked up at him and said "Was it--?" he nodded, and she
quietly said "I'm glad." He added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she
knew that the trial was not over. The brother and sister needed very
few words to understand one another, and they were afraid to say
anything that the younger ones could understand. Patience washed the