She accompanied the words with a glance in the direction of the discomfited Ralph, and he dared not refuse, but he complied with the request in a somewhat sulky fashion. "Believe me, sir," he said, with the slightest curl of his lips, "I deeply regret that in my eagerness to protect this lady, I did not observe that you have been—er—deprived of your sword." Captain Protheroe flushed at the implied insult, but accepted the extended hand. Barbara hastily continued: "That is well," she said cheerfully, affecting to ignore the rising quarrel. "Now will we be all friends together. And now, Captain Protheroe, the result of your expedition?" "I fear I have but little to tell. One patrol indeed passed on the road to the south, but for the rest the country looks quiet enough. Yet we can scarce hope to pass another day here in safety; if you are ready we should move on to-night." "Whither, then?" "Aye, that is the question. We—" then interrupting himself with a bitter laugh—"I had forgot, ’tis we no longer,—they, the King’s troops, are guarding the coast from Watchet to Parret mouth, since so many have escaped thence; there is small hope to the north. We might turn south, and lie hid among the Blackdown Hills, yet there is little to be gained by that; ’twill be some months ere the country be quiet, and you cannot lie all that time in the open. My plan, an it meet your pleasure, is to strike eastward to-night, skirt Bridgewater, and so make for Wells. There lives in that city an old woman who was my foster-nurse. She’s a faithful soul, and would do aught for me, I verily believe. I could bestow you safely enow with her, indeed ’tis like enough the three of us could lie hid there a day or so, until we hear of some means of escape to Holland. There you can rejoin your brother, and we can take service with Brunswick." "But how to reach Wells?" queried Barbara. "We must journey by dark, and lie hid in the day-time in whatsoever corner it pleases fate to lead us to. We must press on rapidly, and should be there in three marches at most. I confess to the risk, but know no better plan. What say you?" "I know nought of the matter," answered Barbara somewhat helplessly. "Do what you think wisest." "To Wells be it then. I know the disposition of our—the troops, and the search is like to be less stringent there than elsewhere." "We will leave the matter in your hands," continued Barbara. "But I must go to Durford before we start for Holland, if you please." "To Durford, madame! Impossible! ’Tis the one place where you would be in greatest danger. What in Heaven’s name would you at Durford?" "Why, marry, collect my gowns of course. Do you dream I would leave them behind for any trollop to flaunt her person in them? My French silk, and the blue taffeta, and—oh! my new gold brocade. I cannot go away and leave my new gold brocade. I must have it; ’tis a matter of absolute necessity." "But it is impossible," he cried desperately.