Relieved as she was to find the Roundhead out of all danger, poor Dame Cooke was terribly upset on hearing the concluding words of the soldier.
“Oh, sir,” said she, the tears springing to her eyes, “must you indeed report the misdeeds of my hot-headed husband. If he is taken, and called to account for this mishap, I much fear that his punishment will be severe. If you could overlook—could find some excuse—could——”
She broke off, utterly unable to say more, but her eyes pleaded with the soldier.
Restraining an inclination to smile, with an effort, the Roundhead said solemnly:
“A bandaged head and shoulder must of necessity give rise to comment. And how can I escape from the necessity of a report? Moreover, there is the matter of the grey mare, and the sheep.”
“They shall be sent to your camp within the hour,” put in the woman eagerly; “and more likewise, if ye will only be merciful to my good man.”
Other talk followed, but for reasons of his own, the Roundhead omitted to assure the dame as fully as she could have wished, that she should hear no more about the matter. It was not without a feeling of great trepidation that she listened to his last words of gratitude for her personal attentions, and witnessed his departure.
Mounted on his horse, he rode slowly down the lane, and not till the farmhouse had disappeared from sight—hidden by a bend in the lane, and a dip in the road—did he meet a single soul. Now, however, he reined in his charger suddenly; and he felt his heart beat quicker as he beheld the pretty maid standing in the road barring his path.
Off came his hat, with a sweeping bow, that would have done credit to a Cavalier; and he bent gallantly in the saddle to converse with the fair being who had waylaid him with the evident intention of speaking to him.
“Oh, sir,” said the maid, her voice trembling with emotion, her face rosy with excitement and bashfulness; “you will forgive my father will you not? He is not a bad man, and if anything happened to him, it would break my heart, and my mother’s also. Do not punish him, and mother and I will make amends in some way.”