Constance maintained a show of firmness which she did not feel, but Monica was much moved, and could not repress her tears. After bidding adieu to Atherton, Sir Richard signified to the boroughreeve that he was ready to attend him, and passed out. As he did so, the officers took charge of him, and the door was shut. Constance's courage then entirely forsook her, and uttering a cry, she sank into a chair. Monica strove to comfort her--but in vain. "I shall go distracted," she cried. "I cannot bear the thought that papa should be imprisoned." "Make yourself easy on that score, Miss Rawcliffe," said Atherton. "Imprisoned he shall not be. I will undertake to rescue him." "You!" she exclaimed, gazing at him through her streaming eyes. "If you could save him this indignity, I should be for ever beholden to you. But no!--you must not attempt it. The risk is too great." "I care not for the risk," cried Atherton. "I will do it. You shall soon learn that your father is free." And he rushed out of the room. "A brave young man," cried Monica. "He has all my Jemmy's spirit. I feel sure he will accomplish what he has undertaken." "I hope no harm will befall him," said Constance. Shortly afterwards a great disturbance was heard in the market-place, and flying to the windows, they witnessed a very exciting scene. CHAPTER XII. THE RESCUE. The visit of the boroughreeve and constables to the Bull's Head attracted a considerable crowd to the market-place--it being rumoured that the magistrates were about to arrest an important Jacobite gentleman. A political arrest at this juncture, when the town was in such an inflamed state, seemed to most persons, whatever their opinions might be, an exceedingly ill-advised step, and the magistrates were much blamed for taking it. Murmurs were heard, and some manifestations of sympathy with the luckless Jacobite would undoubtedly have been made by the assemblage had they not been kept in awe by the strong body of constables drawn up in front of the inn. As might be expected, the lower orders predominated in the concourse, but there were some persons of a superior class present, who had been brought thither by curiosity. The crowd momently increased, until the market-place, which was not very spacious, was more than half full, while the disposition to tumult became more apparent as the numbers grew. At length a large old-fashioned coach was seen to issue from the entrance of the court-yard, and it was at once conjectured that the prisoner was inside the vehicle, from the fact that a constable was seated on the box beside the coachman, while half a dozen officers marched in front, to clear a passage through the throng.