Edward, just look out, and if you see any
body coming or passing, let me know. We must put you on guard till the
troopers leave the forest."
The children set about their tasks, and Humphrey cried out, as he very
often did, "Now, this is jolly!"
While the dinner was cooking, Jacob amused the children by showing
them how to put things in order; the floor was swept, the hearth was
made tidy. He shewed Alice how to wash out a cloth, and Humphrey how
to dust the chairs. They all worked merrily, while little Edith stood
and clapped her hands.
But just before dinner was ready, Edward came in and said, "Here are
troopers galloping in the forest!" Jacob went out, and observed that
they were coming in a direction that would lead near to the cottage.
He walked in, and, after a moment's thought, he said, "My dear
children, those men may come and search the cottage; you must do as I
tell you, and mind that you are very quiet. Humphrey, you and your
sisters must go to bed, and pretend to be very ill. Edward, take off
your coat and put on this old hunting-frock of mine. You must be in
the bedroom attending your sick brother and sisters. Come, Edith,
dear, you must play at going to bed, and have your dinner afterward."
Jacob took the children into the bedroom, and, removing the upper
dress, which would have betrayed that they were not the children of
poor people, put them in bed, and covered them up to the chins with
the clothes.
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