Munn looked at her, and gave a whistle between his teeth--a whistle of dismay. He had thought her a boyish little girl, but he saw her now a very girlish little boy. He doubted if, when they came to Monksfield, he could keep up for one moment the deception that he had planned. But come what might, he knew that he had now gone too far to draw back. After the rough way in which he had let Master Herbert be used, he dared not leave his little sister in the hands of Herbert's kin. "Into the saddle with thee!" he bade more cheerily than he felt. He had to help Merrylips to his horse's back. When he had vaulted into the saddle behind her and put his arm about her, he felt that she was quivering with excitement and nervousness. He called himself a fool to have ventured on such a hare-brained prank. But just then Stephen, who all this time had held Herbert silent with a hand upon his mouth, let go of him in order that he might mount his horse. And straightway up jumped Herbert, right by Munn's stirrup, half in and half out of Merrylips' gown, with his face all smeared with tears. "Oh, thou Sybil Venner!" he wailed. "I'll tell my mother! I'll--" Then Merrylips threw back her head and laughed, with the color bright in her cheeks once more. "See how thou dost like it thyself to walk in petticoats!" she cried. "Go tell thy mother--tell her what thou wilt. Thou canst tell her I'm off to the wars to fight for the king." "Well said!" laughed Munn, as he gathered up the reins. "Upon my word, I believe that after all thou'lt do thy part fairly, Merrylips, my little new brother!" CHAPTER XIV OFF TO THE WARS As they rode along the way to Storringham, Munn gave Merrylips good advice. "Look to it thou dost not swagger nor seek to play the man," he checked some fine schemes that she had hinted at. "Be just as thou art, and let them think thee a timid little lad, and one that hath been reared among women. I'll say thou art not overstrong, and under that pretext will keep thee close, for the most part, in mine own chamber, till I find means to send thee unto Walsover. Ay, ay! We may win through in safety. For Stephen, I know, will be faithful and hold his tongue." "Trust me for that, sir," cried the ex-serving-man, who rode close behind. "I'll never betray the little mistress--the little master, I should say." Presently Munn spoke again, telling Merrylips what people she would meet at Monksfield, and how she should bear herself toward them. "Our senior captain," said he, "that commandeth our garrison, is called Tibbott Norris. He is a soldier of fortune--that is, he hath been a soldier all his life for hire in foreign armies. He is a harsh, stern man, and one of whom many folk stand in fear, and with reason. So do thou be civil to him and keep thyself out of his path."