"God knows, Dick," Giles had said at Dent, "you may die disgraced on a gallows, for that. But, my dear fellow, it's the duty that counts." Dick bit his lip. If Giles were only here! Just then, between Dick and the tree, came the black form of Lorry, with a tense, disapproving lift of the tail. He saw Dick waiting for a game, he supposed, gave a yelp of greeting, and came bounding up the path and into the hall. Dick caught him in his arms. Then, turning to the corporal savagely, he said: "Why don't you get on, you cowards? I can't stand much more." The parlour door opened as he spoke, and the Lady Dorothy came out, followed by John Dent. She was very pale, but quite composed, and she wore the same dress as upon the last evening, and the flowers in her hair, Dick noticed vaguely, were dead. She came straight up to him and kissed him. "You are free, Richard," said John Dent. "To horse, every man!" He was pale too, and curiously subdued in his manner. "She pleaded for you, Richard," he said. "Farewell, madam!" Her Ladyship turned and swept him a curtsy, but she neither spoke nor lifted her eyes to him. He bowed. Then she led Dick away to her room. "Oh, Cousin!" he cried. "Dear Cousin! is it true? Have they gone? Am I safe?" "All true, Dick. Quite safe," she whispered. He kissed her, kneeling by her, tried to thank her, and cried from excitement and relief. "And 'tis still your birthday, dear! It seems weeks since sunrise. But, after all, we are going to have a merry day!" She caressed him. "We may, Cousin Dorothy, after all," he ran on. "Thanks to you, dearest, best of cousins! I'll never call John Dent my cousin--never any more! But you are weary. You haven't slept. Not been to bed all night? And I--I slept like a log. We will not ride out, then. We'll bide at home. Ods me! I'm hungry--something dreadful!" "Go and breakfast, Dick," she said, "and I'll come anon." "Shall I send Bridget with the chocolate and come and have it with you?" "Nay," she answered. "You will want much more than she can carry. I'll call her by and by. You run, quick, Dick. Here comes Lorry, scratching. Be off the two of you!" She fairly turned them out of her room and shut the door. Bridget came to Dick later, and said her ladyship was resting, and would he hold her excused till the evening banquet, when she would come down right gaily. Dick cheerfully agreed, for had she not been up all night on his behalf? He sent her his love, by Bridget, and bade her say he was busy composing an oration for the evening feast. Then he went to enquire of the maids what depredations the Puritans had made; but finding they had confined themselves to beef and beer, he went off with Lorry to visit the gardens and the stables. "I've come back to life, Lorry," he told his friend. "Hours since I should have been cold and dead, sir, but for her. Eh, Lorry, dear, if she should some day need helping, I'd face anything for her!"