John, "one of your men is come up
from Padley; and wishes to speak to you alone."
Mr. John gave a quick glance at the others.
"If you will allow me," he said, "I will go down and speak with him in
the hall."
The rest sat down again. It was the kind of interruption that might be
wholly innocent; yet, coming when it did, it affected them a little.
There seemed to be nothing but bad news everywhere.
The minutes passed, yet no one returned. Once Marjorie went to the door
and listened, but there was only the faint wail of the winter wind up
the stairs to be heard. Then, five minutes later, there were steps and
Mr. John came in. His face looked a little stern, but he smiled with his
mouth.
"We poor Papists are in trouble again," he said. "Mistress Manners, you
must let us stay here all night, if you will; and we will be off early
in the morning. There is a party coming to us from Derby--to-morrow or
next day: it is not known which."
"Why, yes! And what party?" said Marjorie, quietly enough, though she
must have guessed its character. The smile left his mouth.
"It is my son that is behind it," he said. "I had wondered we had not
had news of him! There is to be a general search for seminarists in the
High Peak" (he glanced at Robin), "by order of my lord Shrewsbury. Your
namesake, mistress, Mr. John Manners, and our friend Mr. Columbell, are
commissioned to search; and Mr. Fenton and myself are singled out to be
apprehended immediately.
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