"Alas!" she rejoined, "I would obey your royal highness, but I cannot leave just now. My cousin, Miss Butler, is betrothed to Captain Dawson, of the Manchester Regiment. I must remain with her."
"Better not," rejoined the duke, in an altered tone. "But as you will. 'Twill be vain to plead to me again. I can do nothing more."
Colonel Conway here interposed, and, taking her hand, led her towards the door.
"Say not a word more," he whispered; "or you will undo all the good that has been done."
The party then quitted Cumberland House, and returned to the St. James's Hotel.
Needless to say, they all felt happy—the happiest of all being Sir Conway.
The Duke of Cumberland's injunctions were strictly obeyed. Next day, the family coach was on its way back, containing the whole party, with the exception of poor Monica, who would not return, but was left behind with Lettice.
Three days afterwards the Duke of Cumberland, attended by Colonel Conway, proceeded to Scotland, where the decisive battle of Culloden was fought.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TRIAL OF THE MANCHESTER REBELS.
An interval of some months being allowed to elapse, we come to a very melancholy period of our story.