The Manor House School

he Hawt

ing among the long, lush grass; and all the roadsides were a tangle of vetches, campion, bugle, trefoil and speedwells. The wind was fragrant with the scent of newly turned hay; everywhere the mowers were busy, and the daisies were falling fast beneath the swinging scyth

lounging blissfully under the shade of a big hawthorn tree. The air seemed dancing for very heat; the grasshoppers were chirpi

d Irene Spencer. "One just wants to si

instead of at Winterburn L

dge is nicer than many other sc

I like it better, at any rate, than t

" said Lindsay, idly picking a dandelion

I have,

u'd been at a French sch

sels doesn't happen to be

o learn geography in the third

hool, not a Belgian o

dy speaks Fren

ey speak

nd even they can general

there, Mary?" put

I got ill, and h

it

st tole

talk French

girls knew anything else. They used

dn't have cared to

g things about me and I couldn't understand them. I

in the country

side there was a courtyard where we used to play games. It had orange trees and oleanders in big green tubs, but no grass nor flowers. You couldn't possibly have called it a garden.

e teache

is, who were always making fun of me because I was English. I had a horrid time until a German girl came to the school, and then they

you stay i

y from home again; so she sent me to Winterburn Lodge instead. Miss Russell is very kind if one's not

work most fearfully hard for exams, too. The headmistress made a point of getting a certain number of passes each year, and one was obliged to prepare and go in whether one w

erself with her hat. "Out on the road the heat's at simmering-point. I came to bring a message to Miss Russe

rs. "We'll have a 'palav

se? I hope it's something

's a kind of meeting, where every

ul!" objected Monica, w

don't mean telling falsehoods.

tell-tal

than anyone else's to make up for this. Mildred, you ex

ething that has happened to yourself," said Mildred. "

any adventures in re

tell something

an't remembe

be grand; we're not

hings," said Monica; "might I

ve got i

this book to lend to Miss Russell, as I knew it would interest her. It has a story about the old Manor in the times o

'm sure we shall," said Ir

om the short account in the guide-book. All the facts are quite true, though he must have used his imagination for the details.

don't mi

h the b

e aw

go

girls having clustered round her in a close cir

ERVYN

to live through, especially for those lesser gentry and yeomen who had not placed themselves definitely under the protection of any of the greater barons, and still strove to keep their estates in peace and quiet. The turmoil of the great struggle had not spared even the obscure village of Haversleigh. The inhabitants went about their tasks with an air of unrest. It seemed scarcely worth while to plough the fields, and sow corn which might be trampled underfoot by the soldiery before there was a chance to reap it. There were loud and deep murmurs among

eaded. Dark, stern, and forbidding, his face seamed with scars, he was a harsh master, a relentless foe, and a cruel tyrant to any who dared not resist his authority. He was cordially hated in Haversleigh, the inhabitants of which were Yorkists to a man, but he had garrison

quence he looked warily about him, since, should he chance to meet any of Sir Mervyn's retainers, not only would his flour be confiscated, but his own back would receive such a cudgelling as would lay him up for a month or more. For this reason he had avoided the main road, and chosen a little-used bridle path; and he glanced cautiously up and down each green alley, and liste

s, and sith ye are the same, seek not to hin

friend? Come hither, I pray thee, for in

ith which he had so far partly concealed hi

nture. An Sir Mervyn find you within a five mile of the

now to crown it all he purposes to wed my betrothed. Catharine is mine, not only by her choice, but by the law

iccon, shaking his head. "'Twill need more than

rought tidings. Edward has come to his own again. But two days since did his arms meet those of Lancas

be true it were ne

of the red rose. I hied me in all haste to my lord of Norfolk, and he hath given me a band of stout fellows that are even now hid under the brushwood yonder. An I can surprise Sir Mervyn ere he hears that the emblem o

iccon. "This were folly, Master Roger.

n, will but aid to trick me out for the part I fa

is a rash venture, and one that ill

r times. Strength and defence had been considered before beauty and elegance, and there was little even of comfort to be found inside the stern, forbidding walls. In the apartment in question some rude attempt had been made to render things more habitable than in the rest of the grim establishment. A few pieces of tape

estates squandered, my tenants oppressed and robbed, my retainers dismissed, save only thee, my poor faithful Anne; and in return I am to wed him to b

ed Anne. "If I mistake not, lady, Sir Mervyn will wed

, "only a year agone, and I was thy betrothed! It is six months since

ed her attention to a commotion which was going on in the courtyard below. "Some stranger hath arrived. If I mistake not, 'ti

hat period the arrival of a travelling merchant was an event at a remote country house, and even Sir Mervyn himself did not disdain to examine the cloths and buy an ell or two of velv

as ye never might see out of London town. Here be beside cloth of silk and damask fit for the Queen

kirtle, an I may summon her to the courtya

rine at first would hardly be persuaded to descend from her chamber into the hated presenc

to wed the Church," she said, "but thou shalt have

m the rest, under pretence of exhibiting his silks in the best light; then, whispering: "Keep secret! Betray not that you receive this!" he rapidly thrust a small piece of parchment into her hand. Full of surprise, Catharine yet had the presence of m

ar and we

nd I have hope of your release. Ope the west

e of St. Withold by the hand of

Court

perusal of this missive can be mo

en Roger himself disguised as the pedlar. He was ever one to venture a bo

pt softly down the stairs. She was obliged to make her way through the great hall, where the men-at-arms lay sleeping on the rushes. A dog sprang up and growled, but she managed to quiet it with a caress, and passed on without disturbing the sleepers. Th

aits with a trusty steed to conduct ye to Covebury. Take sanctuary at the conv

point of vantage to another, the defenders made a desperate sally, and rushing helter-skelter down the village sought refuge inside the ancient church. It was of no avail; the villagers, hastily armed with swords and pikes, had joined in the fray. Determined to avenge themselves upon Sir Mervyn for his many acts of tyranny and injustice, they set upon him without mercy, and without respect even for the

e of Tewkesbury is a matter of history. The unfortunate remnant of Lancaster took to flight, and York gained a final and triumphant victory. Roger, whose bravery was conspicuous throughout the day, worthily won his spurs, and was knighted on the field by Richard of Gloucester. His f