Putting on his coat was
impossible, and he was so stiff and sore that he could not hope to
conceal his condition from Patience.
At home all were watching for him. They ran up in anxiety, for one
of the ever ready messengers of evil had rushed down the glen to tell
Patience that the soldiers were beating Stead shamefully, and Jeph
standing by not saying one word. Little Ben broke out with "Poor,
poor!" and Rusha burst into tears at sight of the blood, while Emlyn
said "Just what comes of going among the rascal Roundheads," and
Patience looked up at him and said "Was it--?" he nodded, and she
quietly said "I'm glad." He added, "Jeph's coming soon," and she
knew that the trial was not over. The brother and sister needed very
few words to understand one another, and they were afraid to say
anything that the younger ones could understand. Patience washed the
weals with warm water and milk, and wrapped a cloak round him, but
even the next morning, he could not use his arms without fresh
bleeding, and the hindrance to the work was serious.
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