“My dear Harry,” Herbert exclaimed, “how did you get here?  The troops have been searching for you high and low.  Your escape from Reading was bruited abroad a few hours after it took place, and the party at the hall having reported seeing some one looking in at the window, there was no doubt felt that you had gained this neighborhood, and a close watch has been kept.  All your father’s farms have been carefully examined, and their occupants questioned, and the general belief is that you are still hidden somewhere near.”

“I got a ball through my shoulder,” Harry said, “in making my way through the sentries, and have felt myself unable to travel until I could obtain some food.  I thought that I should be safer from search here, and believing you were away in the army, thought that your sister would perhaps be moved by compassion to aid her old playfellow.”

“Yes, indeed,” the girl said; “I would have done anything for you, Harry.  To think of your being hidden so close to us, while we were sleeping quietly.  I will at once get you some food, and then you and Herbert can talk over what is best to be done.”

So saying she ran into the house, and returned in a few minutes with a bowl of milk and some freshly made cakes, which Harry drank and ate ravenously.  In the meantime, he was discussing with Herbert what was the best course to pursue.

“It would not be safe,” Herbert said, “for you to try and journey further at present.  The search for you is very keen, and it happens, unfortunately, that the officer in command here is the very man whose face you sliced when he came to Furness Hall some two years back.  It would be a bad thing for you were you to fall into his hands.”

Lucy at first proposed that Harry should be taken into the house, and go at once to bed.  She and Herbert would then give out that a friend had arrived from a distance, who was ill, and, waiting upon him themselves, should prevent suspicion being attracted.  This, however, Herbert did not think would be safe.  It would be asked when the inmate had arrived, and who he was, and why the servants should not, as usual, attend upon him.

“I think,” he said, “that if to-night I go forth, having said at dinner in the hearing of the servant that I am expecting a friend from London, you can then join me outside, and return with me.  You must crop off those long ringlets of yours, and turn Roundhead for the nonce.  I can let you have a sober suit which was made for me when I was in London, and which has not yet been seen by my servants.  I can say that you are in bad health, and this will enable you to remain at home, sleeping upon a couch to nurse your shoulder.”

“The shoulder is of no consequence,” Harry said.  “A mere flesh wound like that would not detain me a way from the saddle.  It is only the fatigue and loss of blood, together with want of food, which has weakened me.”