Ben cried, "Em not go;" and Rusha held her hand and begged her not to
forget.
"O no, I won't forget you," said Emlyn, "and when we come back with
the King and Prince, and drive the Roundhead ragamuffins out of
Bristol, then I'll bring Stead a protection for Croppie and Daisy and
all, a silver bodkin for you, and a Flanders lace collar for
Patience, and a gold chain for Stead, and --But oh! wasn't that a
trumpet? Stead! Stead! We must go, or we shall miss them." Then
as she hugged and kissed them, "I'll tell Sir Harry and my lady how
good you have been to me, and get my lady to make you a tirewoman,
Rusha. And dear, dear little Ben shall be a king's guard all in
gold."
Ben had her last smothering kiss, and Rusha began to cry and sob as
the gay little figure, capering by Stead's side, disappeared between
the stems of the trees making an attempt, which Steadfast instantly
quenched, at singing,
"The king shall enjoy his own again."
Patience did not feel disposed to cry. She liked the child, and was
grieved to think what an uncertain lot was before the merry little
being, but her presence had made Rusha and Ben more troublesome than
they had ever been in their lives before, and there was also the
anxiety lest her unguarded tongue should offend Jeph and his friends.
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