The house seemed all dark and deserted; and it was not till I had beaten once more at the door that I saw a light shewing beneath it.
Presently a very unsteady voice cried out to know who was there; and I knew it for my Cousin Tom's; so I roared at him that it was myself.
There followed a great to-do of unlocking and unbarring--for they had the house--as I found presently--fortified as it were a castle; and when the door was undone there was my Cousin Tom with a great blunderbuss and two men with swords behind him.
"Why, whatever is forward ?" I said sharply; for I was impatient with the long waiting and the cold, for a frost was beginning as the sun set.
"Why, Cousin Roger, we knew nothing of your coming," said my Cousin Tom, looking a little foolish, I thought.

"We did not know who was at the door." "I only knew myself of my coming yesterday," I said.

"And whatever is the house fortified for ?" My cousin was putting up the bolts again as I spoke; (the two men were gone away into the back of the house);--and, as soon as he had done, he said: "Why, there are dangerous folks about, Cousin Roger.

And it is a Catholic house, you see." I smiled at that; but said no more; for at that moment my Cousin Dolly came through from the back of the house where she had been sent by her father for safety; and at that sight I thought no more of the door.
I saluted her as a cousin should; and she me.

She looked mighty pretty to me, in her dark dress, with her lace on, for supper was just on the table; and I cannot but think she was pleased to see me, for she was all smiling and flushed.
"So it is you, Cousin Roger," she said.