payment and clothing of our soldiers, without which it is difficult to imagine we could possibly have held out so long. The enemy's word, "The town is ours," has proved very false, while ours "God with us," has proved as true. The worst strait is just now, that though the siege is raised the blockade prevents our receiving the supplies of food which we so sorely need. Prince Maurice issued this order against the relief of the garrison before he left, to the constables and tything men of Egg Buckland and St. Budeaux : "Forasmuch as divers persons disaffected to His Majesty's service make their daily recourse into Plymouth, furnishing the rebels there with all manner of provision for man and horse, contrary to his Majesty's proclamation prohibiting the same; these are therefore to signify that if any person, of whatever degree or quality soever, presume to have any commerce or dealing with any in the said town, or take or carry with him any horses, oxen, kine, or sheep, or other provision for man or horse into the said town of Plymouth for the relief of the rebels there, every such person and persons shall be proceeded against, both in person and estate, as abettors of this horrid rebellion and contemners of his Majesty's proclamation, according to the limitation of the Court of Wards in such cases provided; willing and requiring all mayors, justices of peace, bailiffs, constables, and all other of his Majesty's officers and ministers to cause them to be forthwith published in all churches, chapels, markets, and other places, whereby his Majesty's loving subjects may the better take notice thereof.-MAURICE." And though I believe, spite of this, the country folk would look at the money rather than it, and willingly bring us provisions if the country were open, yet it will hardly pay a man to lose his head to sell his crop. have really lacked sufficiency of nourishment, and the food we have had has been too often of a poor quality. Mr. Tonkin dwells dismally on these facts, and tells me that in this month of December when twenty deaths were the average of the town, there have been instead 132, and that only the number buried in the churchyard, and not all those who fell in skirmishes. Lettice's letter, so fond, so kind, I read many times, and each time with the greater satisfaction and interest. The little memorials of their love for me were acceptable intrinsically, and yet more from the true affection they manifested. And now such cold weather set in at the turn of the year as made every warm thing necessary, and having taken a bad cold when the extreme moist was exchanged for severe frost, I was glad to cover my wrists with Miriam's warm cuffs, and my chest and shoulders with her vest, and to betake myself to the frequent use of Pontefract cakes, through dear grandmother's kindness. I do not want to spend Lettice's money, which is almost four pounds, unless I am necessitated. We soldiers of the Parliament's army are not paid as punctually as we think we deserve to be, yet, as we have but little occasion or even opportunity to spend, we feel this the less. I have resolved to take Lettice's letter with me the next time I go to Mr. Woollcombe's; I feel a desire to let Lucy know as much of Lettice as she can learn from this epistle. But we are busier than ever now. setting the town in a good posture of defence, not knowing what more the future will bring to us of fighting. The siege was only raised just in time to prevent the ingress of the malignants. For the very day after, part of two of the works fell down. Parties go out every day to strengthen and repair the old fortifications and make new ones. Colonel We hear that the Cavaliers of Devon and Corn- Wardlaw's health is completely shattered by his exwall have entered into a solemn vow and protesta-posures in this siege, and the active conduct of all tion, to the utmost of their power to assist his Majesty's armies in reducing Plymouth. Generals Wardlaw and Gould are sending a despatch to the Parliament, and they have intimated to the officers from the east and north-west their messenger may also carry letters of small weight for our relations in those parts, which will be forwarded as opportunity arises from London. I have not been able to send all my papers, as I had intended on the first opportunity, but I have written a letter to my father, thinking there was most hope of his receiving it, and begging him to send it on to Yorkshire to my mother at Brier Grange. things has devolved this long time upon Colonel Gould. All the redoubts and batteries of the enemy are very effectually slighted by us, and we destroyed the hedges immediately contiguous to their outworks. The country around this town is very beautiful. with abundance of gentle slopes and woods, and snug valleys nestling between. Now that the frost has covered the bare trees, so that the branches of them shine silvery in the sunshine, the prospect is very fair indeed, while the near or distant views are generally enlivened with the sight of the sea, on which, in this slight cessation of hostilities are to be seen more sails of ships and divers little boats. Only this morning we had a fall of snow, enough to powder the headlands above Fort Stamford and MountEdgecumbe on the opposite side with whiteness, which gave a new beauty to the scene; and miles away in the east and north the quaint tors of Dartmoor stood up white and glistening against the sky, the snowstorm there being much more severe than in this place. We have no reason whatever to hope for a long cessation of hostilities, indeed, even now that the siege is raised, Mount Stamford guns favour us daily with some great shot; but the Lord hath not permitted their firing to do any further damage, so that the enemy wastes his ammunition to small profit. We hear that the patience and perseverance of this town are much commended by the Parliament, this western country being so much given up to the power and authority of the malignants; some, indeed, compare us prettily to a green oasis of truth in the midst of a wilderness of error. The doctors have been too | busy of late in this town, a thing to be much re- I was so poorly as to be excused without asking for gretted and yet not wondered at: so many of us it from sentry work, and I availed myself of my Dartmoor is a region I often wish to visit, but at present it is just as impossible as for me to go to Brier Grange. freedom to go with my sister's letter to visit Lucy Woollcombe. Bridget was quite excited, for her, when I requested to see her mistress. She was sure that Miss Woollcombe was too pleasantly engaged to receive anyone. The family had company. She so evidently expected me to go, that I actually found it almost difficult to stay. Yet if I did not see Lucy now, who could say when another opportunity might arise. So I told Bridget that my business was somewhat particular, and slipped a silver piece into her hand (a thing I had never done before), as I entreated her to inform her mistress of my pre sence. A curious widening of her wooden face, a curious twinkle in her greenish grey eyes, followed her reception of the coin, and I had just come to the flattering conclusion that I had done a wise thing, and purchased her willing service, when her arm was jerked out in my direction, and her hand dropped again into mine the piece of money. Had I insulted her by offering so small a sum? I very much feared I had.. "My services are not to be bought by an enemy to my King," said Bridget, with her curious smile, "least of all when- then she stopped herself abruptly as if she had said too much, and thus she awakened my curiosity, as I believe she fully purposed to do, without intending to satisfy it in the least. But here Lucy's voice was heard calling, "Bridget! Bridget! I want you;" and the serving woman hastened away. Lucy's voice was enough to quicken my pulses, and it was with difficulty I controlled my strong inclination to hasten to her. Presently Bridget re-appeared. "You may come in for a little while; Miss Woollcombe is alone till the gentlemen rejoin her after their wine," she said drily enough. The gentlemen! Was it possible Lucy had an admirer amongst the Royalists, who had managed on the raising of the siege to get into the town? Fierce jealousy at the thought filled my mind for a few minutes, but I speedily took comfort from her permission to myself. inclination and answered simply, "Quite sure, Miss Woollcombe." 66 She read the letter all through, and appeared to grow interested as she read; after she had finished its perusal, she folded the sheet and returned it to me. Thank you; I feel to like, your sister Lettice very much. It is a very interesting letter; but," she added, "I am afraid your warm things should have come sooner. Will you let me be your doctor ?" I laughed, and assured her I could like nothing better. So she rose and went to a cupboard, and took therefrom a phial bottle full of a white-looking liquid, which she gave into my hand, saying, "You look a little feverish, Mr. Holbeck; I think this medicine will do you good. Will you promise me to take a dose three times a day, the first when you go to bed tonight? It is very useful in cases of feverish cold, and often prevents more serious illnesses." I thanked her, and said something about her goodness to me, and then, foolish as it was, being, I suppose, much weaker and more out of health than I quite knew, I broke down and sobbed for a few moments like a child. But I soon felt ashamed of myself, and tried to rise and leave her, knowing how she would despise such cowardice. But her little hand was laid firmly, restrainingly, upon my arm; and her sweet pitying face, pure and good as the face of an angel, was near mine, and then she raised her soft hand, and drew the hair caressingly, soothingly back from my burning temples, and laid her palm upon them. "There is nothing to be ashamed of in our tears," she said softly, as if she perfectly divined my feelings, "when they arise from bodily weakness or true sources of grief. Even to men," she continued, with a little of that sweet playfulness which she had manifested once before that evening, "tears may be a great relief. We all know women enjoy a good cry when their hearts are too heavy to enjoy anything else. But I am afraid you are seriously unwell; don't trifle with yourself. I am not sure my medicine will be strong enough to suit you. Now I must advise you, for your own good, to go back at once to your quarters and go to bed, and if you are not better to-morrow, you must not rise, but seek the advice of an ex There was more cordiality than usual in her manner to me, though it was blended with some nervous-perienced doctor." ness and hesitation, that gave a deeper flush to the soft carmine of her delicately rounded cheeks, and a brighter look to her deep blue eyes. You are not well, Mr. Holbeck," she said, gently, as she looked at me attentively, and invited me to a seat. Such sympathy was delightful, worth far more than all the inconvenience of the chill I had taken. "I suppose there is no one to look after you when you are ill," she said again, after I had explained to her that my indisposition was but trifling, and thanked her for her kind inquiry. From this it was easy to tell her of my letter, and to produce it and beg her to read it, if it was not too great a trespass on her time. "Sweet tyrant!" I said, sadly, "will you send me from my physician?" Her face flushed deeply: "Indeed, I must." At that moment we heard voices in the passage outside. I rose. Lucy drew herself away from my side. One voice, a loud, noisy voice, certainly not that of Mr. Woollcombe, just then uttered these words, distinctly audible. "Then why did you not let the Prince know your secret, Mr. Woollcombe ?" The voice of Lucy's father uttered some words which could not be distinguished, then came the answer, in the noisy tones that had before spoken: "Wasn't it worth while to sacrifice a few to thirst, for the sake of our cause?" 66 Lucy hurried to the spinnet, and began to play a lively air. You must not hear any more, Mr. Holbeck," she said, in agitated tones; "you have heard too much already. You must stay and meet them now. Pray arrange my music for me. Go when they come, if you can." I obeyed her about the music, and nodded my CHAPTER XIV.-A Dilemma. assent to the rest, for at that moment the door opened and Mr. Woollcombe and a tall, coarsefeatured, sensual-looking military man entered. He stared rudely at me, which I felt, rather than saw, for I studiously avoided looking at him until I should be introduced. "Mr. Holbeck, I did not know we had the pleasure of your company," said Mr. Woollcombe, extending his hand to me with his usual grace and cordiality, though I could detect some slight embarrassment in his tone. "Who is this, pray, that Miss Woollcombe is so obliging as to entertain with her music?" inquired the new-comer, rather demanding than asking. "He is a gentleman, sir," said Lucy, with much spirit, "to whom we are obliged for many favours in these troublous times, and to be grateful is the last thing that I shall forget, I trust." "Very pretty, very pretty, my fair hostess,"said the Cavalier, who had the air and manners and swagger of a soldier of fortune, "but we must not show too many favours to the enemy. Any man may be glad to win such gratitude as this." "Sir!" cried Lucy, rising from the spinnet, drawing her small form to its full height, and speaking with such authority and dignity that the other seemed as much surprised at her as I must own I was myself, though he had no reason to share my delight, "sir, do you mean to insult me in my father's house and presence? How dare you? You!" He fairly cowed at her manner, and took a seat beside her father at some distance from us. She told me by her eyes, rather than her words, not to go quite yet, and consulted with me aloud as to the music she should play. When this piece was ended, she said, "Thank you, Mr. Holbeck; I have already detained you somewhat, I fear; good-night." She laid her hand in mine confidingly. Mr. Woollcombe rose and escorted me to the door; I bowed stiffly to the new-comer as I passed him. Lucy glided out after us, and ran, singing softly, up-stairs; I thought it was to show to him and to me the annoyance she felt towards him. My disease gave way to my fair physician's remedy. I took the prescribed dose on my return to quarters, fell into a profuse perspiration, and slept soundly. I kept in bed late the next morning, and was free from my worst symptoms when I arose. The rest of our month of blockade I did my fair share of work, being by no means desirous to spare myself, but far more anxious for sweet Lucy's sake to be promoted to a lieutenancy, though there was little chance of this, save by some exploit of unusual bravery in active service. I did not reflect then, as I have done very often since, that the positions into which this unnatural civil war placed men, was often extremely incongruous. My own feelings in regard to the promotion I desired, is an instance of this. I anticipated with pleasure the opportunity of gaining an advantage over Lucy's friends, in order that I might become of greater moment in her eyes. If, indeed, she regarded me with even the faintest shadow of that intense love which I now freely acknowledged to myself I felt for her, she must rejoice in my advancement, and yet, rejoicing in that, did she not wrong her party? IGHTING began again on the 26th of January. But before I turn to the events which then so quickly succeeded each other, as to keep us in a constant state of expectation and interest and bustle, I must not omit to record what made the sweetness of my life for several days, when I could not see Lucy, and could only thankfully remember her kindness to me. Tom, to whom, ever since our dear old sergeant's death, I had taken a special liking -he had been so fond of that good man, and so affected by his sudden end-came to me the morning after I had met the Cavalier at the house of Mr. Woollcombe, and said gravely, but with a queer look on his face: "If you please, sir, there's a grown Dutch doll wants to speak to you." I was in bed, following my gentle doctor's advice, and could not rise to speak to any visitor. But the absurd description made me recognise at once the person of Bridget, and I was very unwilling to let her go away without knowing her errand; indeed, it was not to be thought of. "Tom, don't speak disrespectfully of my friends, if you please;" I said, somewhat sharply, though I could not but laugh inwardly at the lad's smartness. "Mistress Bridget is a person of authority. The Lord has not given to all of us handsome forms and countenances." Tom looked abashed, as I meant him to, for his own face is homely-featured, though extremely pleasant, with a bright quick eye, and a merry smile, and he is immensely popular in our garrison. "I must see Mistress Bridget;" I added; "for her business is peculiar; bring me something to make myself presentable to her, and then show her in. But be sure you tell her my sickness confines me to bed, so that if she would rather not enter, she may go away." Tom obeyed me promptly. He threw over my shoulders a new rug, which had not been used for any horse yet, and set the room straight. Then he went back to the "grown Dutch doll," as he had saucily yet not inaptly called Bridget, and presently he ushered her in. Bridget stood at "attention" just within my room door, and eyed me scrutinisingly. "You be ill, then, sir?" she said, curtly enough. "I am very much better, thank you, Bridget. Will you be good enough to say to Miss Woollcombe that her medicine has done me a great deal of good, and that, thanks to her, I hope in a few hours to be well again?" "You stay in bed to get well, sir?" she demanded. "Just to make sure," I answered, smiling. |