He gave Woolgar money for his pains in bringing the children thither. Then he picked Merrylips up in his arms, and bidding Rupert follow, walked through the midst of the people and out of the tavern. There in the market-place he hailed a mounted trooper who was passing. "Take this boy up behind you," he said, pointing to Rupert, "and follow me unto the castle." Then he set Merrylips on his own horse and mounted behind her. In such fashion they all four headed up the narrow street, beyond the market-place, that led to the very heart of the rebel stronghold. As they went, Fowell asked Merrylips to tell him truly how she came there, and she told him everything: how she and Rupert had been sent from Monksfield to save their lives on the eve of the last assault; how they had failed to get aid at King's Slynton; how they had wandered up and down the country; and by what bad luck they had been sent to Ryeborough, where of all places in the world they least wished to be. "And we ha' walked so far, and fared so hard," she ended sorrowfully, "and now here we be, prisoners at the last." "Sure, thou dost not think that I would be a harsh jailer unto thee, Tibbott?" Fowell asked. Merrylips said "No!" but her voice was not quite steady. This fine young officer, in his gay coat, with his sword swinging at his side, and his horse prancing beneath him, was very different from the broken, blood-stained fellow that she had tended in the wash-house at Monksfield. She could not be quite sure that he was indeed the same man and her friend. It was useless for Dick Fowell to try to set her at ease. He talked of things that he thought might interest her. He told how he had been sent to Ryeborough, right after his exchange, to mend his broken head. He told her good news of her friends at Monksfield. For after Colonel Hatcher had assaulted the house for two days, he had received unlooked-for orders to make terms with Captain Norris, so that he might be free to carry his Roundhead soldiers to another place, where they were sorely needed. So although Colonel Hatcher had taken the house, he had taken it by treaty, not by assault. And he had granted honorable terms to Captain Norris and let him go away with his followers into the west. So very likely many of Merrylips' old friends had come alive and unharmed from the siege. But even this good news Merrylips only half listened to. She was gazing up at the vast walls under which they rode and the gateways through which they passed. She shivered as she thought how like a prison was this great castle of Ryeborough. Dick Fowell drew rein at last in a little gravelled court, in front of a great house. It would have been a pleasant dwelling-place, if the walls of the castle had not hemmed it round on every side. A serving-man came bustling to take the horse, another lifted Merrylips to the ground, and as Fowell himself dismounted, a corporal of dragoons hurried forward and spoke to him in a low voice.