XIII.—ORGANISATION OF THE FORCE.
Lord Denventwater was close to his own domains, and a messenger having been sent to Dilston to acquaint the countess with the arrival of the insurgent army at Hexham, she immediately rode over thither, accompanied by Dorothy Forster, who was staying with her at the time.
Though rejoiced to see her husband, the countess appeared greatly disappointed that so little had been achieved, and told the earl she would rather have heard from him at Newcastle, than have seen him at Hexham.
Nor did Dorothy Forster show more consideration to her brother, but blamed him severely for quitting Warkworth.
“What could we do there?” cried the general. “We should have been cut off from a junction with our Scottish allies and compelled to surrender.”
“Now you have lost the whole of the coast from Barnborough to Newcastle,” cried Dorothy.
“One daring deed has been done,” said the earl. “The fort on Holy Island has been surprised by Lancelot Errington. But I fear he will not be able to hold it.”
“You ought to go to his succour,” said Dorothy to her brother.