Page 41 - A Jacobite Exile

nothing out of that."

"No, sir; and my father said that, at the worst, it could be but the matter of a
fine."

"Quite so, lad; but I don't even see how it could amount to that. You will
find Harry somewhere about the house. He has said nothing to me about

going out."

Harry Jervoise was just the same age as Charlie, and was his greatest
friend. They were both enthusiastic in the cause of the Stuarts, equally
vehement in their expressions of contempt for the Dutch king, equally

anxious for the coming of him whom they regarded as their lawful
monarch. They spent the morning together, as usual; went first to the

stables and patted and talked to their horses; then they played at bowls on
the lawn; after which, they had a bout of sword play; and, having thus let
off some of their animal spirits, sat down and talked of the glorious times to

come, when the king was to have his own again.

Late in the afternoon, Charlie mounted his horse and rode for home. When
within half a mile of the house, a man stepped out into the road in front of
him.

"Hullo, Banks, what is it? No bad news, I hope?"

And he leapt from his horse, alarmed at the pallor of the old butler's face.

"Yes, Master Charles, I have some very bad news, and have been waiting
for the last two hours here, so as to stop you going to the house."

"Why shouldn't I go to the house?"

"Because there are a dozen soldiers, and three or four constables there."

"And my father?"