"Oh, yes; I shall lie down as I am, and jump up at twelve to take the round. I shall be back in my room in a quarter of an hour if the enemy is quiet, and sleep again till four, when I go my round again. I say, isn't it wonderful how one wakes at the right time when one has had a little practice." "Roy, my boy, it is wearing you out. Let me go and see if the men are doing their duty to-night." "What nonsense, mother!" cried the lad, merrily. "Just as if this was going to wear me out. To-morrow night old Ben will make the round, and I shall be snoring in my bed. There, good-night." "Good-night, my darling," cried Lady Royland, pressing him to her breast. "I say, what a hard-hearted creature I must feel with this on," said Roy, laughing merrily. "I never notice the cuirass," said Lady Royland, embracing her son again. "I only feel my boy's warm, true heart beating against mine." She followed him to the door, and he turned and kissed her again, and then hurried away, depressing his sword-hilt to keep the steel end of the scabbard from clinking on the pavement. "Why did I do that?" said Roy to himself. "It was not as if--as if--Oh, what nonsense! It's the weather makes me feel low; and she feels low too. I was obliged to try and cheer her up." He mounted to the battlements, whence he entered the room over the guard-chamber where, according to custom now, Ben was waiting with his lighted lantern, and wearing his long cloak, one side of which he threw over the light when he took it up. "All well, Ben?" "All's well, sir. Enemy as still as mice. I'm beginning to think that one of these mornings we shall get up and find they've gone without saying good-bye." "Hope you're right, Ben. Ready?" "Ready, sir." "Then march." They ascended to the top of the gate tower, where they were challenged, and then descended to the rampart to be challenged by the sentinel posted half-way between the towers, and again by the sentry on each tower in turn. It was everywhere the same. The men were well upon the lookout, and they had all the same report to give, that everything was still and nothing had been seen. "You'll have Master Pawson on duty to-morrow night, so as to relieve one man, Ben," said Roy, as he completed his round. "Won't relieve no man, sir," said Ben, sourly. "I shall want one to watch that chap to see that he don't do nothing foolish." "Ah, you're prejudiced. But I say, Ben, suppose we were surprised, how long would it take us to man the walls?" "Couldn't surprise us, sir," growled the old soldier. "First alarm, the men would be out of the rooms and up atop of the leads at the guns; and all the rest would make for the ramparts, ready to run to any spot that was attacked. We're all right, sir, 'cept one thing." "What's that?" cried Roy, anxiously.