I've fought him once," Philip continued,
"but he's too strong, and now the others are keeping us out of the house,
and we've charged them several times, but without doing any good, and there
are a thousand reasons why we shouldn't any of us be hurt."
"But where are the grooms and gardeners?" Matthew asked.
"Oh, they all disappeared," said Philip. "I suppose they feared an inquiry
might be dangerous. It's bad for the health and reputation to fight a
Roundhead."
Matthew laughed grimly. "It's bad for the Roundhead's health if he runs
against this," he said, raising the iron bar.
At this moment Jack interrupted. "See, Phil," he cried, "Barbara's waving
to you at the window."
It was so. They all glanced up, and at the window Barbara's pale face was
visible.
A sudden thought came to Philip, and, leading Matthew into the open, he
pointed to the blacksmith, and threw an inquiring look to his sister. She
hesitated a second or two, and then nodded yes with cheery emphasis, so
Philip led Matthew away and supplemented the story he had already told him
with the startling announcement that all the time there actually was a
fugitive Cavalier in the house.
Matthew Hale whistled; he had no words.
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