"Go see who is there," said Dick to his wife. "But let no one in." On this Mary went to the door, and in as firm a tone as she could command, for she was a good deal frightened, asked who knocked. "'Tis I! Don't you know me, Mary?" cried a familiar voice. "Blessed Virgin!" she exclaimed. "'Tis Father Huddlestone himself!" "Your majesty may go on quietly with your supper," whispered Dick to the king. "As I have told you, the holy man may be trusted. Open the door, dame." Mary instantly complied, and a middle-aged and rather stout personage entered the room. His close-fitting cassock of black stuff was covered by a long black gown. His appearance was far from ascetic, his face being round, rosy, and good-humoured in expression, while his scrupulously shaved cheeks showed marks of a very black beard. Father Huddlestone was priest to Mr. Whitgreave, of Moseley Hall, in the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton, and resided with that gentleman, who was a well-known Royalist. "Heaven's blessings on this house and on all within it!" exclaimed the priest as he came in. "I do not blame you for keeping your door bolted during these troublous times, good daughter. An enemy might slip in unawares. You have a guest already, I perceive," he continued, glancing at Charles. "I have brought you two more. Nay, do not start, my good woman. No danger need be apprehended from one of your own sex." "What is this I hear, father," cried Dick, getting up from the table, and stepping towards him. "You have brought some one with you, you say?" "Here she is," replied Father Huddlestone. "Pray come in, fair mistress." On this invitation, a young lady in a riding-dress entered the house, followed by a slim, good-looking page. In the young lady, Charles recognised Jane Lane at a glance. As to her attendant, he almost fancied, from the slightness of the figure, it must be a female in disguise. "Methought you said there was only a lady, good father?" cried Dick. "This page counts for nothing," rejoined the priest. "The lady is Mistress Jane Lane, of Bentley Hall. I have promised her an asylum here for the night, and I am sure you will afford it her." "There may be reasons why I should not remain here," said Jane, perceiving the king. "I will go on with you to Moseley Hall, good father." "There can be nothing to prevent you from staying here, so far as I am concerned, fair mistress," observed Charles, who had risen from the table, but stood apart. "I am about to proceed on my journey immediately." "Are you quite sure you had so decided before my arrival?" asked Jane. "Quite sure," he replied. "Richard Penderel will tell you so." "Who is this young man, Mary?" asked Father Huddlestone, looking very hard at the king. "He hath the dress of a woodward, but neither the look nor the manner of one." "I will tell your reverence some other time," she replied, evasively.