"Not so," he rejoined. "But I won't keep you longer in suspense. Learn then that the king is coming here."
"His majesty coming to Trent!" exclaimed Juliana, again clapping her hands. "Oh! that is delightful. I have longed so much to see him."
"Moderate yourself, my love," said Mrs. Wyndham, who looked scarcely less pleased.
"You are his majesty's harbinger, I suppose?" said Lady Wyndham to Careless.
"Your ladyship is right," he replied. "I have attended the king ever since the great disaster at Worcester. Several attempts which he has made to escape to France, have been frustrated, and he has therefore resolved to abide a time when the vigilance of his enemies shall relax. With this design he has fixed upon Trent House as a retreat, feeling well assured that he has not a more devoted adherent than Colonel Francis Wyndham."
"His majesty has formed a just opinion of my son," said Lady Wyndham. "He will be quite safe under his roof."
"Women are not generally trusted with important secrets," observed Mrs. Wyndham. "But his majesty need fear no indiscretion on our part. Juliana is sometimes rather thoughtless, but she will now see the necessity of keeping strict guard upon her tongue."
"I have never yet had a secret confided to me," said the young lady in question; "but if everybody is as careful as I shall be his majesty won't be in much danger."
"I have already assured Major Careless that the servants can be relied upon," said Colonel Wyndham.