We must leave this house immediately; come up with me to your
rooms, and help me to pack up yours and your sisters' clothes, for we
must go to my cottage this night. There is no time to be lost."
"But why, Jacob; I must know why?"
"Because the Parliamentary troopers will burn it down this night."
"Burn it down! Why, the house is mine, is it not? Who dares to burn
down this house?"
"They will dare it, and will do it."
"But we will fight them, Jacob; we can bolt and bar; I can fire a gun,
and hit too, as you know; then there's Benjamin and you."
"And what can you and two men do against a troop of horse, my dear
boy? If we could defend the place against them, Jacob Armitage would
be the first; but it is impossible, my dear boy. Recollect your
sisters. Would you have them burned to death, or shot by these
wretches? No, no, Mr. Edward; you must do as I say, and lose no time.
Let us pack up what will be most useful, and load White Billy with the
bundles; then you must all come to the cottage with me, and we will
make it out how we can."
"That will be jolly!" said Humphrey; "come, Edward."
But Edward Beverley required more persuasion to abandon the house; at
last, old Jacob prevailed, and the clothes were put up in bundles as
fast as they could collect them.
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