"Yes, he cannot give up the old woman's cat! 'Tis a dog which once belonged to my wife's young brother, who died abroad, and he hath never been properly broken in. Come to heel, sirrah, or I shall find means to teach you!" The dog obeyed, but unwillingly, and the two sportsmen hastened on their way. CHAPTER VII. FURTHER CONSULTATIONS. WINNIE stood at the cottage door and watched the retreating figures of the sportsmen as long as she could see them. It seemed to her that no one was ever so long in walking a quarter of a mile, but at last they reached the bend of the valley down which the little brook took its course, and were out of view, Carlo pausing and taking another look at the hut, as though his mind were not yet quite at rest about that cat. When she could no longer see the least glimpse, Winifred returned to the bedside, and, throwing herself down with her face hidden in the bed-clothes, she burst into tears, and sobbed as if her heart would break. "Why, my maid, what is the matter?" asked the old woman. "The danger is over for this time, and Master Arthur is safe. They will not come back again to-night." "I know it," sobbed Winifred. "I know I am silly, but I cannot help crying. It was so dreadful! And the dog smelling at the door, and all! I thought two or three times it was all over with us!" "And so did I!" replied Dame Sprat. "I heartily wished the cat at Bristol, or further off, fond as I am of the poor creature." "Then you think it was really the cat, and not Master Arthur, the dog was after?" said Winifred, composing herself by degrees. "I think so, but of course I cannot tell," replied the dame. "At all events, the cat was there, and right glad am I that the gentlemen would not allow her to be molested." "Does it not seem strange," said Winifred, "that a man like Colonel Kirke, who laughed at the prayers of mothers for their children, and made hideous jests upon the poor dying creatures in their agonies—he who made a poor lad run a race with a colt to save his life, and hanged him after all—should have been willing to spare the poor cat because you asked him, and should have taken your plain speaking so kindly?" "He was in cool blood, and I suppose his heart might be softened by old recollections. There are few men, however hardened in crime, but have some good left about them, if one can only find it." "I wonder if there is any good left about Judge Jeffreys?" said Winifred.