She had
been a great pet and favourite with everybody, and no doubt well-
cared for even after the sad day when her mother had perished in the
slaughter at Naseby. Patience wondered what was to become of the
poor child, if her father never appeared to claim her; but it was no
time to bring this forward, for Steadfast, as soon as he had
swallowed his porridge, had to go off to finish his day's labour for
the lady of the manor, warning his sisters that they had better keep
as close as they could in the wood, and not let the cattle stray out
of their valley.
He had not gone far, however, before he met a party of his fellow
labourers running home. Their trouble had been saved them. The
Roundhead soldiers had taken possession of waggons, horses, corn and
all, as the property of a malignant, and were carrying them off to
their camp before the town.
Getting up on a hedge, Stead could see these strange harvestmen
loading the waggons and driving them off. He also heard that Sir
George had come late in the evening, and taken old Lady Elmwood and
several of the servants into Bristol for greater safety.
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