“In the great proportion of cases, the estates which the Cromwellites took possession of were vastly larger than they were able to till themselves; and, as in the case of Zephaniah Whitefoot, they let out the greater portion to tenants.  All these lands I would have restored to their former owners, leaving to the Cromwellites the land they till themselves, and the houses they have built upon it.

“As to turning the Whitefoots out, I shall certainly take no step that way, at present.  It will be time enough to do so, when King James is firmly established on the throne.  As things go at present, I have but very faint hopes that will ever be.  He has utterly failed to conquer the Protestants of the north of Ireland, and we have all the strength of England to cope with, yet.  It will be well, mother, if, at the end of this strife, we can keep Davenant Castle over our heads, with the few acres that still remain to us.”

Two days afterwards, Captain Davenant mounted his horse and rode over to the Whitefoots.  Zephaniah and Jabez came to the door.

“I suppose you have come over to turn us out, Fergus Davenant,” the old man said; “but I warn you, that it will not be for long.  The triumph of the ungodly is short, and the Lord will care for his own people.”

“You are mistaken,” Captain Davenant said quietly.  “I have come over for no such purpose.  I am, of course, aware that parliament has passed a law, reinstating me in my father’s lands; but I came over to tell you that, at present, I do not propose to take advantage of that law.  I shall do nothing, until this war is at an end.  If King William’s cause triumphs, the act will remain a dead letter.  If King James’s wins, and the act is upheld, I wish to tell you that I shall never disturb you in the land which you, yourselves, occupy.  Your tenants, on the other hand, will be my tenants; but in the house which you have built, and in the fields which you have tilled, you will remain masters.

“I have thought the matter over, and this appears to me to be a just settlement, and one which I give you my word that I will hold to, should King James triumph in the end.  I think that the law turning out the Protestant settlers, from the land which they have held for forty years, is well nigh as unjust as that which gave it to them.”

“I will take no gifts at the hands of the wicked,” Zephaniah began, but Jabez interrupted him.

“Hush, father!” he said.  “It is not thus that kindness should be met.”

Then he stepped forward, leaving his father too surprised, at this sudden assumption of command on the part of his son, to interrupt him.