While she sat fingering the ring, she felt that she did not care what Rupert or the Monksfield garrison thought of her. She knew that she had done what Lady Sybil would have wished a tender-hearted little maid to do. But as the afternoon passed, and the room grew dark, and the rebel watchfires kindled on the hills, she began to think how far away was Lady Sybil, and how near were the Monksfield garrison. And since Rupert knew that she had helped their captive enemy, all the garrison must know, and surely all would cease to be her friends. As she was thinking thus, and remembering the stern face that Captain Norris had worn, she heard a knock upon her door. When she called, "Come!" there appeared on the threshold a slender figure that she knew could be only Rupert's. He spoke in a formal, dry voice. "I am sent to find you, Master Venner. Captain Norris hath a word to say unto you." Within her shirt Merrylips clutched at the silver ring and tried to take courage. "The captain--is fain to speak with me?" she faltered. "Ay," said Rupert. "Now--this moment. Come! He waiteth for you." CHAPTER XXII A PARTING OF THE WAYS In the mess-room, where the candles were lighted, Captain Tibbott Norris sat alone at the table. Before him were a dish of stewed meat and a cup of wine, and he ate and drank steadily, but all the time his eyes were bent upon a map that was spread open at his elbow. He had not shaved in two days, and his unkempt face looked old and tired. For a full minute Merrylips must have hesitated on the threshold before Captain Norris noticed that she was there. Then he peered at her through the candlelight, and said he:-- "Thou, is it, Tibbott? And young Hinkel, too? Come you in, both lads, and shut to the door." At heart Merrylips was glad that Rupert was to stay in the room. She was almost afraid to be left alone with the stern captain. But when he spoke again, she went to him obediently, and halted at his side. He turned and laid his hand on her shoulder, just as he had done on the day when she first had entered the mess-room. And suddenly, as she met the look in his tired eyes, she no longer feared him. But when Captain Norris spoke, it was to Rupert, not to Merrylips, that he said the words. "Young Hinkel," he began, "I've marked you for long as a brisk lad, of riper wit than many of like years. So to-night, when I cannot spare one man from the garrison, I shall trust you, a lad, with a man's work." Rupert's eyes shone. He drew himself up as tall as he could, and stood at salute, while he listened to the captain. "This child," said Captain Norris, and drew Merrylips to stand against his knee, "must leave Monksfield to-night. But to send him as a non-combatant, under a white flag, to Colonel Hatcher, would mean to return him to the Roundhead kinsfolk from whom his brother snatched him." "Prithee, not that!" begged Merrylips.