Anne still stood silent, but her face showed the storm within.
"But I must not throw away my life," said Jack hastily. "It may be that I can yet escape."
"There is no chance. The house has been watched ever since your return," said Anne, in a hoarse voice. "You will but make matters worse."
"Be it so, then. I will bide the storm which you have brought upon me," said Jack. "I pray you to leave me, sister. I have need of time and solitude to collect my thoughts and prepare for that which is coming."
Without a word Anne turned and left the room, and Jack fastened the door.
Then, drawing his Bible from its hiding-place and trimming his lamp, he knelt down and read, again and again, the tenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. ¹ He passed several hours in reading and prayer, and then, as the gray morning began to creep in, he rose and dressed himself as for a festival, and when it was fully day, he went down to his father's room, to help him dress, as usual. He was met at the door by Simon, with a face full of terror and dismay.
¹ I request every reader of these pages to do the same.
"Oh, Master Jack, Master Jack! What can have happened? The constable with his men are at the door and demand entrance, and Father—I cannot think of his name—"
"Father Barnaby," said Jack gently. "Go down, Simon, and say I will be with them directly. I will but see my father."
"What means all this disturbance?" asked Master Lucas, opening his door. "Who are those men without?"