"Then if my lady makes up a match for me, and I refuse it, you will take me in, won't you, Aunt Deborah?" I ventured to ask. "Yes, child, you shall never want a home while I have one. But do you know whether my brother has any news from Edinburgh?" "I have heard of nothing new, madam. The Prince has his court there and keeps possession of the city, but the castle holds out against him as does Sterling. It is also said that he intends to march into England, before long." "I hear as much in my letters from Newcastle, and also that the citizens are very busy strengthening the defences and levying soldiers. By the way, Mr. Wesley is there and has made himself conspicuous by getting up a loyal address to the King. I should say the Elector of Hanover. You do not know whether my brother intends to join the Prince?" "No, Aunt Deborah, not for certain, though I believe my lady is very earnest to have him do so." "I dare say. Anything to take him out of the way!" muttered Aunt Deborah. "Would you not wish to have Sir Julius join the prince, Aunt Deborah?" Mrs. Deborah paused before she answered. "I ought to wish it!" said she. "Our house has always been loyal to the rightful line, and yet—child, I do not know what to say. When I think of this gallant young prince, and the stock from which he is sprung, I feel as if I could risk anything to set him on the throne of his fathers. And then on the other side, when I think of a civil war and all the horrors it brings in its train, it seems as if anything must be better than that. You say my lady is desirous of having Sir Julius go north!" "I am not so certain about that, madam, but there is no doubt of her loyalty to the prince. She wears no ribbons but white. She is very busy making of white favors and cockades, and receives letters from the north every day. I believe she would like to go to Edinburgh herself." Mrs. Deborah muttered something which I did not hear, and then asked me why I did not open my parcel. I was only waiting her leave to do so, and availed myself of it with all speed. It contained a letter from Mrs. Thorpe, enclosing quite a large packet, post marked Exeter, and sealed with black. I guessed at once what had happened. My kind old kinsman was dead.