And so it was all over, and we were free of our enemies. Late that night Alison and I, with Merciful Wiggleskirk in attendance, were in the Market Place at Hull, weary and sore bespent, but devoutly thankful. Ere daybreak next morning we were sailing down the Humber, and so at last I had some leisure to look at my wife and assure myself that all the events of the past week were realities rather than dreams. But that they were realities her sweetness did most abundantly prove to me, and in spite of the fact that we were exiles, she and I spent our first years of married life in Holland, in as sweet a contentment as lovers could wish for. But after many years we came back to England and to the old house. And since it was half-ruined, I set to work to rebuild it, and somewhat altered it in appearance and design. We transferred Sir Nicholas’s body from its first quarters to its proper resting-place. On the spot where we first buried him I now spend many hours, sitting in his chair, and telling my eldest son, Nicholas, of the brave doings that I have had in our old house. And for the sake of him and of his brothers and sisters--for I warrant you we have been blessed with a numerous progeny!--I have written down this chronicle at such times as I have had naught better to do. When I showed the first pages of this book to my wife, she took some objection. “Sure,” says she, “I never called you Master Poltroon.” “Sweetheart,” says I, “you did.” “But you called me Mistress Spitfire,” says she. “And that’s what you were,” says I. “Was I?” says she. “Well, maybe I was--but you were never Master Poltroon.” Faith! ’tis mighty comforting that she has so good an opinion of me. THE END. TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. * * * * * BY THE SAME AUTHOR WHEN CHARLES THE FIRST WAS KING LIFE IN ARCADIA THE WONDERFUL WAPENTAKE GOD’S FAILURES AT THE GATE OF THE FOLD THE QUARRY FARM WHERE HIGHWAYS CROSS BALLADS OF REVOLT * * * * * _ALDINE HOUSE, 69 GREAT EASTERN STREET, E.C., AND 67 S. JAMES’S STREET, S. W. OCTOBER 1896._ Messrs. J. M. Dent & Co.’s New Novels and Stories _IN ACTIVE PREPARATION._ =L. Cope Cornford.=--THE MASTER BEGGARS: A Historical Romance of the Low Countries in the times of the “Beggars.” By the author of “Captain Jacobus.” Cr. 8vo. 4s. 6d. net. =Gilbert Parker.=--THE TRESPASSER. Revised and Rewritten Edition. Cr. 8vo. 4s. 6d. net. =Mary Beaumont.=--JOAN SEATON: a story of Parsifal. By the author of “A Ringby Lass.” A Yorkshire Story. Cr. 8vo. 4s. 6d. net.