"All the better," replied the man. "He may have to hide there before we have done with him. It is not the first time, I think, mother, that we have hid a man there; and so we must do now, if it is needful. Here, we'll put the chest for a seat at the foot of the bed. You bring the table out of 'tother room. Then it will all look mighty comfortable. But we must get him some supper before he goes to bed; and I'll broach that little keg I brought in last time."
"I hope he'll pay for what he has," said the old lady; "for we cannot afford to be giving away the things for nothing."
"There, there, don't be a fool," rejoined her husband. "Madam Culpepper will take care we are none the worse for it; and we all of us owe her much more than that comes to."
When they descended the stairs they found Smeaton playing with the children, who were in high glee; but his servant was no longer with him.
"I have sent my man up to the house," he said. "He can stay there without danger to himself, for to-night at least; and he may be of service to me."
The old man seemed startled, and not well pleased.
"You know best, sir," he said gruffly; "but--"
"But what, my good friend?" interrogated Smeaton. "You seem not to like my having done so."
"Why, sir, if he tells Sir John that you are down here, it may be a bad business," replied Grayling. "Mayhap you do not know Sir John as well as we do."
"I think I do," rejoined Smeaton, with a smile; "and, for that reason, I told the man not to say where I am, but merely to let them know I had been rescued and had ridden away. I have left him to tell his own tale; but I can trust him; and, depend upon it, Sir John will know nothing of the matter."