"Oh! I didn’t want him to find me here!" she said quickly. "I ... I mistrust that man, Philip ... foolishly perhaps, and ... if he sees me ... he might guess ... he might suspect..." "Nay, my lady, there’s not much fear of that, craving your pardon," hazarded John Stich, cheerfully. "If ’tis Sir Humphrey ’twill take his driver some time yet to walk down the incline, and then up again to the cross-roads. ’Tis a mile and a half for sure, and the horses’ll have to go foot pace. There’s plenty of time for your ladyship to be well on your way before they get here." She felt reassured evidently, for she said more calmly,— "I’ll have to put up somewhere, John, for a few hours, for the sake of the horses. Where had that best be?" "Up at Aldwark, I should say, my lady, at the Moorhen." "Perhaps I could get fresh horses there, and make a start at once." "Nay, my lady, they have no horses at the Moorhen fit for your ladyship to drive. ’Tis only a country inn. But they’d give your horses and men a feed and rest, and if your ladyship’ll pardon the liberty, you’ll need both yourself." "Yes, yes," said Philip, anxiously regarding the beautiful face which looked so pale and weary. "You must rest, dear. The journey to London will be long and tedious ..." "But Aldwark is not on my way," she said with a slight frown of impatience. "The inn is but a mile from here, your ladyship," rejoined Stich, "and your horses could never reach Wirksworth without a long rest. ’Tis the best plan, an your ladyship would trust me!" "Trust you, John!" she said with a sweet smile, as she extended one tiny hand to the faithful smith. "I trust you implicitly, and you shall give me your advice. What is it?" "To put up at the Moorhen for the night, your ladyship," explained John, whose kindly eyes had dropped a tear over the gracious hand held out to him, "then to start for London to-morrow morning." "No, no! I must start to-night. I could not bear to wait even until dawn." "But the footpads on the Heath, your ladyship..." hazarded John. "Nay, I fear no footpads. They’re welcome to what money I have, and they’d not care to rob me of my letters," she said eagerly. "But I’ll put up at the Moorhen, John. We all need a rest. I suppose there’s no way across the Heath from thence to Wirksworth." "None, your ladyship. This is the only possible way. Back here to the cross-roads and on to Wirksworth from here." "Then I’ll see you again, dear," she said tenderly, clinging to Stretton, "at sunset mayhap. I’ll start as soon as I can. You may be sure of that." "And guard the letters, little sister," he said as he held her closely, closely to his heart. "Guard them jealously, they are my only hope." "You’ll write the letter to Lady Edbrooke," she added. "Have it ready when I return, and perhaps write out your own petition to the King—I’ll use that or not as Lord Edbrooke advises."