And we too will leave the good souls within to their endearments for the same space of time; they will soon know the extent of the danger in which their foster boy is placed. But the priest knows it, and he walks up and down, peering sometimes into the darkness beyond the green, in the direction of the town, scrutinizing the faces of the passers-by, until curfew rings from the tower of his own church. Then he re-enters the cottage. Cuthbert, hunger satisfied, is seated in the chimney-corner; the logs sparkle in the draughts of wind, which find their entrance through every cranny; the aged couple are seated as before. “Father, we have told Cuthbert that you think he ought not to stay here, but he says he is bound to remain over the morrow; that will not hurt, will it?” “Not if he is unseen, and the news of his coming has not got abroad.” “Did anyone see thee, child, as thou enteredst the town?” “Alas, I fear _one_ did; Nicholas Grabber was hanging about the gate on the common.” “Nicholas Grabber; then, my boy, thou must not tarry an hour; it is he who hast already betrayed thee.” “Betrayed me! how?” said Cuthbert, alarmed. Then the priest told Cuthbert all that our readers have already learned from his lips, and the lad at once recognized his danger, for he remembered how Nicholas had lurked about the Abbot’s chamber that eventful night, when the secret was revealed to him. “You are right, Father,” he said, “I must go.” “Too late!” said the priest, “too late!” For at that moment the tramp of many feet was heard without, followed by a violent knocking at the door, which the priest fortunately had barred when he entered. “Hide him,” said the good man; “I will keep them at bay for a few minutes.” And the old people hurried Cuthbert out of the room. “The back door,” said the boy. “Nay, that is watched too; I hear them whispering without.” “Then I am lost.” “No! no! my boy,” said the old woman, “come up stairs, and get into the loft.” They went hastily up the stairs, into the old people’s bedroom. There was no ceiling, but that which plain boards overhead, separating them from the attic beneath the roof, afforded; knocking one of these aside with his staff, the old man bade Cuthbert mount on his shoulders, and get into the loft. The lad did so easily, for the roof of the room was low, and then replaced the boards, so that no one could see that there had been any disturbance thereof. The loft was often used for the storage of fruit, corn, _flax_, and the like, and there was a quantity of the latter material stored therein; on this Cuthbert lay. Meanwhile the priest below fulfilled his task. “Who are ye, disturbing an honest family after curfew?” “Officers of the law, constables; open, in the name of the law.” “There be many who avail themselves of that name, with very little title; robbers be about, and I must have surer warrant ere I admit you.” “_Open_, or we will break down the door.”