'She answered with a silent nod to Mrs. Fortescue's last hurried whisper, "Take care of them, Henrietta. I trust to you." And when the door had closed on Mrs. Fortescue, and we were actually in the conveyance provided by Master Noakes and his friend the notary, still that strange sense of being in a dream could not be shaken off. I gazed out at the well-known streets as we drove through the town, and tried to realize that we were indeed being carried to a prison; and then I looked at Bessie's tearful face opposite, and wondered at myself for feeling so apathetic. We drew up at last before a large, gloomy brick building, which I had seen only once before, and had looked upon with great awe and interest as "the jail," little dreaming then that the time was near when I myself should be entering those heavy iron gates, and lodging behind one of those dismal grated windows. The man who opened the door led us into a long dreary room, that looked almost empty, the only furniture being a table littered over with papers and parchments, and one or two wooden benches. Then Master Noakes, after talking with the man aside for a few minutes, and pulling out a paper (the order for our arrest, I suppose), announced that he was going to wait on the governor; and forthwith marched out of the room. We were left meanwhile under the charge of the little notary, who took not the slightest notice of us, but amused himself by sitting upon the table and examining carefully every one of the documents that were lying there.

'One or two words I had caught that had passed between Master Noakes and the porter—something about "no space, and the jail being as full as it would hold already;" and I fancied that perhaps they might not be able to take us in, after all, and that we should be sent back to Mrs. Fortescue. If it had not been for the presence of the notary, I should have asked Bessie or Henrietta; but there seemed a kind of spell upon me while I watched him sitting so silently upon the table, turning over the papers with such absorbing interest. So I said nothing, and sat leaning my head upon Henrietta's shoulder until I really think I should have fallen asleep, had not Master Noakes suddenly made his appearance again, bringing with him the governor of the jail. He was a worn, sharp-featured, and by no means good-humoured-looking person, and yet somehow I did not dislike his face. Not that he seemed to pity us in the least: he only stared at us with a perplexed, annoyed kind of look, and then said in a fretful, injured tone, as if he alone was the ill-used person:

'"So ill-considered to bring them here just now! when I scarcely know how to bestow those who are already here. His worship should have some reason in his commands. I tell you, sir, that the place is packed to overflowing as it is; and what with the fever too, 'tis enough to drive a man almost out of his wits."

'"That is no business of mine," replied the notary, getting off the table to salute the governor. "The order for the arrest of these young ladies is signed, as you see, by the Lord Chief-Justice himself. You won't care to go against that, I fancy."

'"But the house is to be guarded too, you say: why cannot they remain there?"

'The notary drew his companion away from our end of the room, and whispered in his ear. I could only catch the words "wealthy parents," which I remembered because I had heard Mrs. Fortescue use the same expression; and then he added in rather a louder tone: "Colonel Dare openly boasted that he was in communication with members of families of distinction residing in Taunton, even before the landing of the Duke of Monmouth. It has been proved that Elizabeth Davenant, Henrietta Sidney, and Frances Countess of Desmond were among the number. They supplied him with money, and were privy to the secret of the Duke's intended landing, three days before it took place. The rest of Madame St. Aubert's pupils are only accused of working and presenting a banner, as you doubtless remember."

"I remember the fact of the banner being presented," was the reply. "But what became of the governess?"

'"She passed Kirke's outposts by means of a bribe, and got safe off to France," replied this dreadful little notary, who appeared to know everything. "She escaped just in time too; for 'twas only the day after, that orders came down from London that no exceptions were to be made to the rule of arresting suspected persons. And not too soon either: Kirke was getting very lax. The law should be allowed to take its just course, sir, without all these exceptions and relaxations."

'"The law will have plenty to do here, then," said the governor in the same peevish tone of voice he had used before. "Three hundred prisoners here already; and to ask me to take in more! Well, I cannot gainsay your order, sir; but if these be ladies of quality, they will scarce relish the company I shall be forced to give them."

'"Prisoners must not expect good company," said the notary, glancing at us carelessly. "As long as you have them in safe keeping, his lordship will be satisfied. Master Noakes, it is time we were going. I wish you a good morning, sir; and the same to you, ladies." And, saluting us with something between a touch of the hat and a nod, Master Noakes and his companion strode out of the room.