Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/94

 "Aye, sir!" She cleared her throat. "Aye," she repeated heavily.

"Then, mistress, we are under orders," the voice out of the darkness continued, "we are ordered to"

"To seize the house, I suppose, sirrah!" finished Mistress Lindsley, coming suddenly out of her daze of misery. She snapped defiant fingers. "To murder innocent women and children as ye have so oft done before!"

"But—but—madam," began the voice—rather astonished, Mehitable thought.

"To burn and pillage and commit what terrible crimes in the name o' warfare ye best wot of!" swept on Mistress Lindsley, now fully aroused. She barred her doorway dramatically. "But ye shall not enter here, except over my dead body!"

"Mistress, I" the voice tried again.

"Except, I say, over my fallen body!" cried Mistress Lindsley. Suddenly she screamed. "Run, Hitty, run! The way be open at the rear, mayhap!"

Mehitable, however, was too transfixed by terror and excitement to move, and the next instant Mistress Lindsley was gently but firmly shoved to one side.

"Is there any one in the house not hysterical?" demanded a desperate voice. "This poor lady be either demented or overcome by fright!"