Yet they don't appear to achieve it." "It is in that particular," said Blake complacently, "that I shall differ from them." He turned to Ruth, eager to engage her in the conversation, to flatter her by including her in the secret.

Knowing the loyalist principles she entertained, he had no reason to fear that his plans could other than meet her approval.

"What do you say, Mistress Ruth ?" Presuming upon his friendship with her brother, he had taken to calling her by that name in preference to the other which he could not bring himself to give her.

"Is it not an object worthy of a gentleman's endeavour ?" "If you can save so many poor people from encompassing their ruin by following that rash young man the Duke of Monmouth, you will indeed be doing a worthy deed." Blake rose, and made her a leg.

"Madam," said he, "had aught been wanting to cement my resolve, your words would supply it to me.