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34 THE king's yard
" No, no, my dear, the coat's smart enough
for an
old fellow, and as to the lace, why, there's no prize
money nowadays, and it's quite good enough for a
gaoler. Be off to your cookery, and don't come near
me again
till this business is all settled."
She was pretty, the simple
beauty of an English
country girl, with a graceful figure and easy carriage,
that notwithstanding her big cooking apron and plain
dress and healthy glow of colour, made it plain to
anyone that she was the little lady
of the castle.
When she went back to the kitchen and ordered the
serving woman to
bring her this, that, and the other
for the making of the pie for dinner, despite her
eighteen years and plain dress, it
she should have command.
seemed fitting that
Presently appeared Lieutenant Stockleigh, leading
a procession of the naval ofificer, his prisoner and the
two marines, one of them carrying a valise belonging
to the American.
Captain Bagshott bowed, then led
them into the front room of his cottage, which was at
once his state apartment and his daughter's best parlour.
" Here, sir," said the naval lieutenant,
" is the
prisoner whose arrival the Admiral says you
expected.
I will take a receipt for his body, and
get away, if you please."
'
Gentlemen, be seated. You may order your
marines back to their boat, sir."