And we couldn't get any water, except by going out at night; young
Master George was wounded at the well. And they only gave us a tiny
bit of dry bread and salt meat every day, and it made little Ralph
sick and he died. And at last there was only enough for two days
more--and a great breach--that's a hole," she added condescendingly,
--"big enough to drive my lady's coach-and-six through in the court
wall. So then my lady sent out Master Steward with one of the best
napkins on the end of a stick--that was a flag of truce, you know--
and all the rascal Roundheads had to come in, and we had to go out,
with only just what we could carry. My lady went in her coach with
Master George, because he was hurt, and the young ladies, and some of
the maids went home; but the most of us kept with my lady, to guard
her to go to his Honour and the King at Oxford. Father rode big
Severn, and mother was on a pillion behind him, with baby in her
arms, and I sat on a cushion in front."
After that, it seemed that my lady had found a refuge among her
kindred, but that the butler had been enrolled in his master's troop
of horse, and there being no separate means of support for his wife
and children, they had followed the camp, a life that Emlyn had
evidently enjoyed, although the baby died of the exposure.
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