“Your father has neither estate nor possessions now, my boy; he is a proclaimed rebel. If this kindly offer is refused, and you are both so weak and vain as to resist, the place will be battered down and left in ruins, while the sufferings and slaughter of your people will be at your door. Now, sir, briefly, what message am I to take back to the commanding officer?”
“God save the king!” cried Roy, warmly.
“That is no answer, sir—only the vain cry of an enthusiastic, misled boy. What am I to say to the general in chief?”
“That Lady Royland will hold Royland Castle in the king’s name as long as one stone stands upon another, and she has a brave following to fight.”
The officer raised his hand in salute, turned his horse and rode back, while Roy stood there with his heart throbbing as he watched the three figures depart, and wondered whether it was really he who had spoken, or all this scene in the deepening evening were part of a feverish dream.
He was brought back to the present by the deep gruff voice of Ben.
“There, sir,” he said, with a look of pride at the boy in whose training he had had so large a share, “I knew you could.”
At the same moment Roy glanced at the corporal, who smiled and saluted him proudly.
“I only wish, sir,” he said, “that the colonel had been here.”