Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/221

Rh aid in these discussions, now inquired whether it was not time to send out some messenger—the Lady Amabel, in default of another—to see whether aid could be lent to the garrison. Edgar proposed this with reluctance, but explained that it was by her own wish he spoke of it. "The Lady Amabel will not let me rest. She insists that unless she shall go soon, it may be too late. She thinks the earlier she goes the better, and the more likely she is to bring aid to us. So long as the besiegers had obtained no foothold in the castle, I was able to reassure her, and to claim that the siege might be raised without need of risking her life. Now, however, I can no longer make that excuse. The Count has effected a lodgment, and bids fair to go further. What say you, Friar Bacon—what say you, Hugh?"

There was a long silence, for although it had been decided that it was best the young girl should go upon her dangerous mission, yet when the moment came, all hesitated. At length the Friar answered,

"We have lost lives in defense of the castle, and shall—unless Providence intervene—lose more. The Lady Amabel is but one of us, and she risks only her life as do all of us. She is shrewd as a man, ready as a boy, and may pass