And as for force, why there are not five
soldiers to each town in the kingdom. It's a glittering
bugbear this fear of the military; simultaneous strikes would
baffle all the armies in Europe."
"I'll go back and pray that all this is wild talk," said Sybil
earnestly. "After all that has passed, were it only for your
child, you should not speak, much less think, this, my father.
What havoc to our hearts and homes has been all this madness!
It has separated us; it has destroyed our happy home; it has
done more than this--" and here she wept.
"Nay, nay, my child," said Gerard, coming up and soothing her;
"one cannot weigh one's words before those we love. I can't
hear of the people moving with coldness--that's out of nature;
but I promise you I'll not stimulate the lads here. I am told
they are little inclined to stir. You found me in a moment of
what I must call I suppose elation; but I hear they beat the
red-coats and police at Staley Bridge, and that pricked my
blood a bit. I have been ridden down before this when I was a
lad, Sybil, by Yeomanry hoofs. You must allow a little for my
feelings."
She extended her lips to the proffered embrace of her father.
He blessed her and pressed her to his heart, and soothed her
apprehensions with many words of softness.
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