As no other course presented itself this was followed.  Harry remained during the day in his ’place of concealment in the warehouse, and at nightfall went out, and, being joined by Herbert, returned with him to the house.  The door was opened by Lucy and he entered unperceived by the domestics.  The first operation was to cut off the whole of his hair close to his head.  He was then attired in Herbert’s clothes, and looked, as Lucy told him, a quiet and decent young gentleman.  Then he took his place on a couch in the sitting-room, and Herbert rung for supper, which he had ordered to be prepared for a guest as well as for Lucy and himself.

CHAPTER XIII.

Public events.

For some days Harry remained quietly with his friend.  He did not stir beyond the door, although he had but little fear of any of his old friends recognizing him.  The two years which had passed since he was at school had greatly changed his appearance, and his closely-cut hair, and the somber and Puritanical cut of his garments so completely altered him that it would have been a keen eye indeed which had recognized him when merely passing in the street.  A portion of each day he spent out in the garden strolling with Lucy, or sitting quietly while she read to him.  The stiffness in his arm was now abating, and as the search for him had to a great extent ceased, he intended in a short time to make for Oxford.

The news from the various points at which the conflict still continued was everywhere disastrous for the king.  Montrose had been defeated.  The king, endeavoring to make his way north to join him, had been smartly repulsed.  The Royalists were everywhere disorganized and broken.  Negotiations were once again proceeding, and as the Scottish army was marching south, and the affairs of the crown seemed desperate, there was every hope that the end of the long struggle was approaching.  Harry’s departure was hastened by a letter received by Herbert from his father, saying that he had obtained leave from his regiment, and should be down upon the following day.

“My father will not blame me,” Herbert said, “for what I have done, when he comes to know it.  But I am rot sure that he would himself approve of your remaining here.  His convictions are so earnest, and his sense of duty so strong, that I do not think he would harbor his nearest relative, did he believe him to be in favor of the king.”

Harry next morning mounted a horse of Herbert’s and started to ride from the town, after taking an affectionate farewell of his hosts.  When two miles out of Abingdon he suddenly came upon a body of Parliament horse, in the leader of whom he recognized, by a great scar across his face, the officer with whom he had fallen out at Furness Hall.  Relying upon his disguise, and upon the fact that it was only for a minute that the officer had seen him, he rode quietly on.