" "I feel the same as you do," replied
Humphrey: "but recollect, Edward, that the old man's very infirm, and
what would become of our sisters if we were to leave them?"
"I know that well, Humphrey--I have no idea of leaving them, you may
be sure; but I wish they were with our relations in safety, and then
we should be free to act."
"Yes, we should, Edward; but recollect that we are not yet men, and
boys of fifteen and thirteen can not do much, although they may wish
to do much."
"It's true that I am only fifteen," replied Edward, "but I am strong
enough, and so are you. I think if I had a fair cut at a man's head I
would make him stagger under it, were he as big as a buffalo. As young
as I have been to the wars, that I know well; and I recollect my
father promising me that I should go with him as soon as I was
fifteen."
"What puzzles me," replied Humphrey, "is, the fear that old Jacob has
of our being seen at Lymington."
"Why, what fear is there?"
"I can not tell more than you; in my opinion, the fear is only in his
own imagination. They surely would not hurt us (if we walked about
without arms like other people) because our father had fought for the
king? That they have beheaded some people it is true, but then they
were plotting in the king's favor, or in other ways opposed to
Parliament.
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