“Le,” said the squire, in a low voice, to change the subject, “have you told old Grandiere why it is that Roland will not give evidence against the pirate captain, even to save himself?” “Yes; I have told him that Roland has been persuaded by Silver, that he, Silver, is his, Roland’s, father. “He said that he didn’t believe one word of it. He said that when the villain was down in Maryland he must have heard the story of the young man having been saved in his infancy from the wreck of the _Carrier Pigeon_, without a mark on person or clothing to point to his parentage, and taken advantage of the circumstance to claim Roland as his son, and get him in his power.” “I think Grandiere was right,” said Abel Force. When they reentered the parlor they found all their party present, idle and silent, because, in fact, they could settle themselves to neither occupation nor conversation while their minds were so full of anxiety. Le went and sat down beside Odalite. Mr. Force lingered a few moments in the room to bid his troubled daughters to trust in Providence and hope for the best. Then, telling them he was going up to sit in the room he had engaged adjoining their mother’s, and that he might be found there if wanted, he left the parlor and went upstairs. First he stopped at the door of the side room and tapped lightly. The nurse came to answer the summons. “How is she?” he whispered. The nurse came out and softly closed the door behind her before answering: “She is sleeping quietly, and must not be disturbed on any account.” “Thank you. That will do. I am going to sit in the next room. If I should be wanted, come to me there.” “Yes, sir,” said the woman, returning noiselessly to the sick chamber, and closing the door behind her. As Mr. Force turned away, his eyes fell upon the form of Rosemary Hedge moving silently as a spirit along the corridor. He went to her and whispered: “What is it, my dear?” “Nothing. I am only going to our room to put on my hat. Uncle Grandiere is going to take me to see dear Roland,” replied the girl. “Ah, that is right. God bless you, my dear!” said the squire, as Rosemary passed on to the large, double-bedded room in the same corridor which was occupied by the four girls. CHAPTER XX “WHEN LOVERS MEET IN ADVERSE HOUR” Rosemary quickly put on the olive green linsey suit in which she had crossed the sea, and the little round traveling cap in which she had ridden to the city, and hurried downstairs to join her uncle. Her dress was not too warm for these late April days. “Come, my little love,” said the old skipper, “I could not find a carriage for you on the stand, nor even at the livery stable around the corner; so there is nothing for us but to pack ourselves into a moving black hole they call a street car or to walk. I think by walking fast we could reach Capitol Hill sooner than by riding in one of these cars.”