King taken--Buckingham and Egremont killed--
Rob well--proud as a pyet. Ho, Grisell," as she appeared, "bestir
thyself. We be ready to eat a horse behind the saddle. Serve up as
fast as may be."
Grisell durst not stop to ask whether she had heard the word Copeland
aright, and ran downstairs with a throbbing heart, just crossing the
hall, where she thought she saw a figure bowed down, with hands over
his face and elbows on his knees, but she could not pause, and went
on to the kitchen, where the peat fire was never allowed to expire,
and it was easy to stir it into heat. Whatever was cold she handed
over to the servants to appease the hunger of the arrivals, while she
broiled steaks, and heated the great perennial cauldron of broth with
all the expedition in her power, with the help of Thora and the
grumbling cook, when he appeared, angry at being disturbed.
Morning light was beginning to break before her toils were over for
the dozen hungry men pounced so suddenly in on her, and when she
again crossed the hall, most of them were lying on the straw-bestrewn
floor fast asleep. One she specially noticed, his long limbs
stretched out as he lay on his side, his head on his arm, as if he
had fallen asleep from extreme fatigue in spite of himself.
His light brown hair was short and curly, his cheeks fair and ruddy,
and all reminded her of Leonard Copeland as he had been those long
years ago before her accident.
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