Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/42

18 together again quickly, and then it was stored away in the vaults of the castle.

Lady Mortimer and Amabel Manners were equally busy at the household affairs. Seeing the men all at work, they decided to be equally industrious in their own vocations. They cooked meat, made cakes of bread, smoked bacon, dried beef and preserved it in sugar, and saw that all stores of herbs, balsams, and spices were renewed. Then, too, bales of cloth were woven or bought, and made into the long loose robes, and tight hose that were universally worn. The children of the castle—for there were quite a troop of boys and girls belonging to the servants and retainers—were put to making torches, picking lint, gathering firewood, and helped their elders wherever it was possible.

This industry gave an air of cheerfulness to all in the castle walls. Every hour had its task, and so the time passed quickly, and the autumn came without sign that they were to be called upon to make use of all the arms and munitions they had prepared.

But by this time even the far-sighted veteran Hugh of Cambray could suggest no further work, and the danger of attack had passed from the minds of the people of the household. They returned to their old occupations. There was a