“I hope not, indeed; but there is no saying.  My father’s orders are that I am to stay at home, if people come and take possession, and send a man off to you with the news privately, but that, if no one comes, I may myself bring you over any news there is; so I may be back here this afternoon.”

“I shall be looking out for you, Harry.  Remember, it will be horribly dull for me up here, wondering and fretting as to what is going on.”

“I know, Charlie; and you shall hear, as soon as I get the smallest scrap of news.  If I were you, I would go for a good walk among the hills.  It will be much better for you than moping here.  At any rate, you are not likely to get any news for some hours to come.”

Charlie took the advice, and started among the hills, not returning until the midday meal was ready.  Before he had finished his dinner there was a tap at the door, and then a young fellow, whom he knew to be employed in Mr. Jervoise’s stables, looked in.  Charlie sprang to his feet.

“What’s the news?” he asked.

“Master Harry bade me tell you, sir, that a magistrate, and four constables, and ten soldier men came today, at nine o’clock.  He had returned but a half-hour when they rode up.  They had an order for the arrest of Mr. Jervoise, and have been searching the house, high and low, for papers.  No one is allowed to leave the place, but Master Harry came out to the stables and gave me his orders, and I did not find much difficulty in slipping out without their noticing me.  Mr. Harry said that he had no news of Mr. Jervoise, nor any other news, save what I have told you.  He bade me return at once as, later on, he may want to send me again.  I was to be most careful that no one should see me when I got back, and, if I was caught, I was on no account to say where I had been to.”

The farmer insisted upon the young fellow sitting down at the table, and taking some food, before he started to go back.  He required no pressing, but, as soon as his hunger was satisfied, he started again at a brisk run, which he kept up as long as Charlie’s eye could follow him down the valley.

Although the boy by no means wished Mr. Jervoise to be involved in his father’s trouble, Charlie could not help feeling a certain amount of pleasure at the news.  He thought it certain that, if his father escaped, he would have to leave the country, and that he would, in that case, take him as companion in his flight.  If Mr. Jervoise and Harry also left the country, it would be vastly more pleasant for both his father and himself.  Where they would go to, or what they would do, he had no idea, but it seemed to him that exile among strangers would be bearable, if he had his friend with him.  It would not last many years, for surely the often talked-of landing could not be very much longer delayed; then they would return, share in the triumph of the Stuart cause, and resume their life at Lynnwood, and reckon with those who had brought this foul charge against them.