"I am striving to save you from being ridiculed by the whole district, sir, and I appeal to you not to force me to have you humbled by going in to complain to Lady Royland." "You will not humble me, sir, by going in to complain to my mother, for she endorses everything I have done." "Her ladyship does!" cried Master Pawson, looking quite aghast. "Of course. All this is by my father's orders." "Absurd, boy! Your father has given no such orders." "Indeed!" said Roy, flushing angrily at the contradiction. "You have not been at home, sir, or you would have seen his messengers, three troopers, ride up this morning, from his regiment, who will stay to help us strengthen the place. There they are! I hope you don't think they look ridiculous in their uniforms." For, as he was speaking, the three men, rested now and refreshed, had marched from the servants' hall to where the new recruits were drawn up, and stood there waiting for their captain to return. For a few moments Master Pawson's face dropped, and he stared in his utter astonishment. But he recovered himself quickly, and said, with a smile-- "Of course I did not know of this, my dear boy, especially as it all was while I have been away. As your father has given the orders in his letter,--and I am very glad that your mother has heard at last,--of course there is nothing to be done, unless her ladyship can be brought to see how unnecessary it all is, and likely to cause trouble and misconstruction among the neighbours. I am sure that if Sir Granby could be here now, he would see that it was needless. Whatever troubles may arise, nothing can disturb us in this secluded spot. There, I will go now to attend to my reading. When you have done playing at soldiers," he added, with a slightly mocking emphasis upon the "playing", "perhaps you will join me, Roy. You will get tired of handling swords too large for your hand, but of studies you can never weary. _Au revoir_. I am sorry we had this little misunderstanding." He patted Roy on the shoulder and walked on across the drawbridge, as if not perceiving that his pupil followed him; and as he drew near the servants, ranged rather awkwardly in their fresh habiliments, he smiled in a way which made every man shrink and feel far more uncomfortable than he had been made by his stiff buff coat. But as he passed the three troopers,--fine, manly-looking, seasoned fellows, who wore their uniforms as if to the manner born, and who drew themselves up and saluted him, evidently looking upon him as one of the important personages of the house,--he ceased to smile, and went on to his study in the north-west tower, looking very serious and much disturbed in mind. CHAPTER TWELVE. GUNS AND NO POWDER?