Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/27

 "To Gossip Aliwood's. It's a good mile, and I have to carry my things."

"Well, Agatha, if 'Il take me up to the old lady, I'll carry your things for you."

Agatha consented, and as as she had taken up the lamp, for it was now quite dark, Jacob was once more introduced.

"I wish, Madam," said Jacob, '"you would be persuaded to leave the house for this night."

Jacob Armitage, leave this house I will not, if it were filled with troopers; I have said so."

"But Madam—"

"No more, Sir; you are too forward," replied the old lady, haughtily.

"But Madam—"

"Leave my presence, Jacob Armitage, and never appear again, Quit the room, and send Agatha here."

"She has left, Madam, and so has the cook, and Martha went away behind Benjamin; when I leave, you will be alone."

"They have dared to leave?"

"They dared not stay, Madam."

"Leave me, Jacob Armitage, and shut the door when you go out." Jacob still hesitated. "Obey me instantly," said the old lady; and the forester, finding all remonstrance useless, went out, and obeyed her last commands by shutting the door after him.

Jacob found Agatha and the other maid in the court-yard; he took up their packages, and, as he promised, accompanied them to Gossip Allwood, who kept a small ale-house about a distant.

"But mercy on us! what will become of the children?" said Agatha, as they walked along, her fears for herself having up to this time made her utterly forgetful of them. "Poor things! and Martha has left them."