“Might ha’ done better, captain,” replied the old fellow, gruffly. “But it warn’t so bad. Wait a few days, though, and we’ll show you something better than that.—What do you say, lads?”
The answer was a hearty cheer, which was repeated, and was still echoing through the place, when Roy, thrilling still with the excitement of the past hour, made his way towards his mother’s room to fully set her mind at rest with his last good news.
Chapter Twenty Two.
But All’s Well.
Lady Royland was surrounded by the trembling women of the household, who, scared by the firing, had sought her to find comfort and relief.
“What! the ten men safely brought in!” she cried, as her son hastened to tell his tidings. “And no one hurt?”
“No one on our side, mother,” said Roy, meaningly; “I cannot answer for those across the moat.”
“Our ten poor fellows here in safety,” cried Lady Royland, once again. “Oh, Roy, my boy, this is good news indeed! But you must be faint and exhausted. Come in the dining-room. I have something ready for you.—There, you have nothing to fear now,” she said, addressing the women; “but one of you had better go and tell Master Pawson that we are ready to sup.”