Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/162

146 you propose to hale me to the Tower and put me on the rack."

"I doubt whether you would get much out of her even that way," said Dana. And it is of no use asking me, for I don't know what this is all about."

"Traitors both!" cried I. "We give ye till to-morrow to repent and make confession, failing which ye shall be delivered into the hands of justice. Executioner, see that the axe's edge be keen against to-morrow's dawn, for thou'lt have to deal with two false traitors upon Tower Hill, I wis."

"Your Grace shall be obeyed," Gell answered, and we ceased our fooling and parted with Dana at the gate. The next day great preparations were made. At three the company began to arrive, and we found that Aurelia had invited all the young children, and a selection of their parents, to a great party in our garden. Happy they always were, but never more so than when within the influence of my dear girl's smile, which seemed to have a magical power of drying tears and appeasing quarrels.

When they were tired of games and had had their tea—a precious commodity only used on festal occa-