“I’ll soon know,” said Jael, struggling with her agitation.  “Don’t you be seen, miss; that might anger the Squire; and, oh, he will be a wrathful man this night, if he caught him working in yonder church.”

Grace then slipped back, and Jael ran on.  But no sooner did she come up with the party, than Raby ordered her back, in a tone she dared not resist.

She ran back, and told Grace they were carrying him in, hurt, and the Squire’s eyes were like hot coals.

Grace slipped into the drawing-room and kept the door ajar.

Soon afterward, Raby, his men, and his prisoners, entered the hall, and Grace heard Raby say, “Bring the prisoners into the dining-room.”

Grace Carden sat down, and leaned her head upon her hand, and her little foot beat the ground, all in a flutter.

But this ended in a spirited resolve.  She rose, pale, but firm, and said, “Come with me, Jael;” and she walked straight into the dining-room.  Coventry strolled in after her.

The room was still brilliantly lighted.  Mr. Raby was seated at his writing-table at the far end, and the prisoners, well guarded, stood ready to be examined.

“You can’t come in here,” was Mr. Raby’s first word to Grace.

But she was prepared for this, and stood her ground.  “Excuse me, dear uncle, but I wish to see you administer justice; and, besides, I believe I can tell you something about one of the prisoners.”

“Indeed! that alters the case.  Somebody give Miss Carden a chair.”

She sat down, and fixed her eyes upon Henry Little—­eyes that said plainly, “I shall defend you, if necessary:”  his pale cheek was flushing at sight of her.

Mr. Raby arranged his papers to make notes, and turned to Cole.  “The charge against you is, that you were seen this night by several persons engaged in an assault of a cruel and aggravated character.  You, and two other men, attacked and overpowered an individual here present; and, while he was helpless, and on the ground, you were seen to raise a heavy cudgel (Got the cudgel, George?)—­”

“Ay, your worship, here ’tis.”

“—­And to strike him several times on the head and limbs, with all your force.”

“Oh, cruel! cruel!”

“This won’t do, Miss Carden; no observations, please.  In consequence of which blows he soon after swooned away, and was for some time unconscious, and—­”

“Oh!”

“—­For aught I know, may have received some permanent injury.”

“Not he,” said Cole; “he’s all right.  I’m the only man that is hurt; and I’ve got it hot; he hit me with his hammer, and knocked me down like a bullock.  He’s given me this black eye too.”

“In self-defense, apparently.  Which party attacked the other first?”

“Why they attacked me, of course,” said Henry.  “Four of them.”

“Four!  I saw but three.”

“Oh, I settled one at starting, up near the forge.  Didn’t you find him?” (This to George.)