"Here's like to be a merry meeting among kindred!" he cried. "Cornet Venner, you'll be blithe to know that your cousin, Will Lowry of Larkland, is riding hither, as fast as horse can bear him."
CHAPTER XXXIII
WESTWARD HO!
At the mere name of Will Lowry, Merrylips forgot the dress that she wore and forgot that she must be brave like a boy. She ran to her brother Munn, and creeping into the space between his seat and Dick Fowell's, clasped her arms tight about his neck.
"Sure, thou'lt never let them give me back to Mr. Lowry, Munn dear!" she begged. "For now 'twill be worse than ever at Larkland and they said when I was grown, I must marry Herbert, and I am fain to marry no one, never, and least of all Herbert, that is a mean coward. Oh, best Munn, prithee say that Mr. Lowry shall not take me! Say it, Munn!"
Poor Munn! He would have been more than glad to have said it, and to have made his promise good. But in a moment Merrylips herself realized that he was powerless to help her. He had no sword to wear like the other gentlemen. Even as herself he was a prisoner and helpless in Lord Caversham's hands.
She looked beseechingly at Lord Caversham. But my lord sat fingering the London letter, and Dick Fowell waited in silence on his father's pleasure. They wasted time, while she was sure that next moment Will Lowry would come marching in and carry her back to Larkland.
"Oh, Munn! Canst thou do naught to help me?" she cried in a heart-broken voice, and hid her face against his shoulder.
Then for the second time that portly Lady Caversham took charge of Merrylips' affairs. She rose from her seat, and came and laid one hand on Merrylips' head and the other on Munn's shoulder. Now that she saw how troubled he was for his little sister, she seemed ready to forgive him, both for having used the child so carelessly and for having himself fought upon the king's side.
"Have no fear, Merrylips," she said. "For thou shalt go unto thy kin at Walsover, ay, though twenty Lowrys were fain to stay thee. I promise it, and there's an end on't."