Neither do I
consider the danger so great as you suppose. Let Benjamin saddle, and
be prepared to ride over to Lymington immediately. I will give him a
letter to the magistrate there, who will send us protection."
"But, madam, the children can not remain here. I will not leave them
here. I promised the colonel--"
"Will the children be in more danger than I shall be, Jacob Armitage?"
replied the old lady, stiffly. "They dare not ill-treat me--they may
force the buttery and drink the ale--they may make merry with that and
the venison which you have brought with you, I presume, but they will
hardly venture to insult a lady of the House of Villiers."
"I fear they will venture any thing, madam. At all events, they will
frighten the children, and for one night they will be better in my
cottage."
"Well, then, be it so; take them to your cottage, and take Martha to
attend upon the Miss Beverleys. Go down now. and desire Agatha to come
to me, and Benjamin to saddle as fast as he can."
Jacob left the room, satisfied with the permission to remove the
children. He knew that it was useless to argue with Miss Judith, who
was immovable when once she had declared her intentions. He was
debating in his own mind whether he should acquaint the servants with
the threatened danger; but he had no occasion to do so, for Agatha had
remained at the door while Jacob was communicating the intelligence,
and as soon as he had arrived at that portion of it by which she
learned that the mansion was to be burned down that night, had run off
to the kitchen to communicate the intelligence to the other servants.
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