'Why,' he said slowly--'twas ever a boy slow of speech and of understanding--'belike,'tis Sister.' He kissed my forehead. 'It is Sister,' he said, as if he were tasting a cup of ale and was pronouncing on its quality. 'How dost thou, Sister? Bravely, I hope. Thou art grown, Sister. I have seen my mother, and--and--she does bravely, too; though I left her crying. 'Tis their way, the happier they be.' 'Barnaby?' said Sir Christopher, 'is it thou, scapegrace? Where hast thou----But first tell us what has happened. Briefly, man.' 'In two words, Sir: the Duke of Monmouth landed the day before yesterday at Lyme Regis with my Lord Grey and a company of a hundred--of whom I was one.' The Duke had landed! Then what Robin expected had come to pass! And my brother Barnaby was with the insurgents! My heart beat fast. 'The Duke of Monmouth hath landed!' Sir Christopher repeated, and sat down again, as one who knows not what may be the meaning of the news. 'Ay, Sir, the Duke hath landed. We left Holland on the 24th of May, and we made the coast at Lyme at daybreak on Thursday the 11th. 'Tis now, I take it, Saturday. The Duke had with him on board ship Lord Grey, Mr. Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, Mr. Heywood Dare of Taunton'---- 'I know the man,' said Sir Christopher, 'for an impudent, loud-tongued fellow.' 'Perhaps he was, Sir,' said Barnaby, gravely. 'Perhaps he was, but now'---- 'How "was"?' 'He was shot on Thursday evening by Mr. Fletcher for offering him violence with a cane, and is now dead.' ''Tis a bad beginning. Go on, Barnaby.' 'The Duke had also Mr. Ferguson, Colonel Venner, Mr. Chamberlain, and others whom I cannot remember. First we set Mr. Dare and Mr. Chamberlain ashore at Seatown, whence they were to carry intelligence of the rising to the Duke's friends. The Duke landed at seven o'clock with his company, in seven boats. First, he fell on his knees and prayed aloud. Then he drew his sword, and we all marched after to the market-place, where he raised his flag and caused the Declaration to be read. Here it is, your Honour.' He lugged out a copy of the Declaration, which Sir Christopher put aside, saying that he would read it in the morning. 'Then we tossed our hats and shouted "A Monmouth! A Monmouth!" Sixty stout young fellows 'listed on the spot. Then we divided our forces, and began to land the cannon--four pretty pieces as you could wish to see--and the arms, of which I doubt if we have enough, and the powder--two hundred and fifty barrels. The Duke lay on Thursday night at the George. Next day, before dawn, the country people began flocking in.' 'What gentlemen have come in?' 'I know not, Sir--my duty was most of the day on board. In the evening I received leave to ride home, and indeed, Sir Christopher, had orders to carry the Duke's Declaration to yourself. And now we shall be well rid of the King, the Pope, and the Devil!'