No; but I would have you take the adventure when it came.'

"O me!" said Gladice, "that is because I could not look with your eyes upon Sir Alan Beaucaire."

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He was a goodly young knight," said Elfhild, and did his devoir gallantly."

"So did his horse, and was the goodlier of the two; and besides, was not so much given to jesting."

"Niece, niece," said the elder lady, gravely, "I wish this jesting mood of thine may never turn to sorrow! But I was not thinking of Sir Alan, any more than he thinks of a certain graceless maiden; he has taken the Cross, as I hear, and is on the way for Palestine."

"Wherein I commend him heartily," replied Gladice; "he will find Saracens to run a-tilt at there that can give good blows in return-more fit for a man to deal with than the wooden poppet he thought so much of striking on the nose that day."

"Patience, child! you would be like those cruel dames we have heard of, who would have their champions fight for their love with sharp swords instead of arms of courtesy, and were ill-content till they saw their blood. Shame on you, maiden! it is a noble sight to see gallant gentlemen exchange good blows in love and charity, but for aught beyond-it is no sight for Christian women."

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"I desire no man to venture life or limb for me," said Gladice; "nor yet to risk suffocation in his helmet, like that fat French knight: let them try the strength of their spears where spears are needed, and fight under some better badge than a woman's love-token."

"Then if Sir Alan come home from Jerusalem with an eye thrust out, or a cheek fairly slashed by a Saracen blade, he may hope to win some grace at his lady's hands?"

"I said not that," replied Gladice, with a little toss of disdain.

It was at this point that their conversation was interrupted by tokens of unusual excitement in the little fortress. Steps were heard moving rapidly up and down the stone staircases, and three or four retainers, hastily adjusting their armour, hur

ried across the court. At the same time a trumpet-call sounded faintly, as from the other side of the walls. They had little time to speculate as to what great adventure was to break the calm of their quiet household, when Dame Elfhild's grave tirewoman entered the apartment with less ceremonious deportment than usual, and brought tidings that the Knight of Ladysmede was approaching the tower. Even his visit was an event of such an exciting nature in their monotonous life, that the nerves of the decorous Judith were pardonably shaken. But when she was followed by the little page, with the additional information that Sir Godfrey had a companion-a stranger knight, the boy was sure, because, as he had noticed with the particular observation common to his years, he rode a bright sorrel horse with three white fetlocks, which neither he nor Cropt Harry, the two great authorities on such points, had ever seen before, then even her mistress's curiosity was visibly roused, and Gladice condescended to some further inquiries. And when the page returned from a second reconnaissance, and announced that the tall knight, now in the act of dismounting below, bore the cross upon his shoulder, all were prepared to welcome a visitor of unusual interest where a visitor of any kind was a rarity.

Sir Godfrey was more courteous in his greetings to his kinswomen than he usually cared to be. He presented Le Hardi with all due formalities to both ladies, and as soon as the Crusader had engaged Gladice in conversation sufficiently to make such a movement practicable without awkwardness, he himself requested a moment's speech with the elder hostess, and drew her apart into the embrasure of the window. There he briefly made her acquainted with his views for the marriage of his ward, and requested her good offices in the matter. Elfhild had already been looking forward anxiously to so desirable an event, and as she glanced again at the stranger's tall form and martial bearing, and marked with what courteous deference he was addressing himself to her fair niece, with what

an eager attention and gentle smile he caught up her slightest word, while his eyes were fixed on her face in respectful admiration, she had already come to the conclusion in her own mind that such an arrangement was in every respect most desirable. This was none of Sir Godfrey's coarse roisterers, on whom she had often feared he would insist upon bestow ing his ward's lands and person, and from whose approach Gladice would recoil, as she did sometimes even from her guardian himself- but a noble knight, no doubt of name and repute, a crossed soldier of heaven, and cast in such stalwart earthly mould as ladies loved to look upon. Such aid as Elfhild might give in the matter was promised readily, though in carefully-guarded language; for Sir Godfrey was one of those who, in any proposal which it pleases them to make, prefer acquiescence to approval.

"There is some trifling disparity of years, you would say," said he; "but my fair cousin is no puling child, and if I know aught of her fancies, can see other merits in a lover besides a smooth face and a voice like a gleeman's."

"You speak wisely, cousin," replied the lady; a proved knight is far better worth a maiden's favour than a beardless squire; and Gladice has discretion, as you say: but indeed," continued she, bridling a little at the thought of her own maiden dignity committing itself so far in praise of any man, "I have seen many a younger knight less fitted to catch a damsel's fancy; and if I may judge from her smiles-which are not so freely given, Sir Godfrey, as some I could name-it will need no great treaty to make them favourably acquainted."

"It were best so," rejoined the knight," for her choice lies, as I may tell you plainly, between these espousals and the cloister. Sir Nicholas has the king's special sanction in this suit, as well as mine; I should be loth to force my fair cousin's inclinations, and, as you both know, have given her large indulgence; but I have to answer to his majesty in this matter, and it is his gracious will the more especially as he is himself

absent, and there are said to be evil counsels in the kingdom-to see these fair marors bestowed in trusty hands."

"His majesty judges well," said Elfhild; " and this noble knight, you say, is much in his favour?" `Elfhild was loyal, and the alliance was becoming more and more desirable in her eyes.

"King Richard loves and trusts him much; and he is here now with the royal warrant upon other and important service. But mark me-not a word of the king's will as yet to Gladice; nor seem yourself overanxious in this matter-it might hinder what we both desire; for to say nought of that contradiction which lies in all womanhood-saving your favour, loving cousin-and which makes them only to be guided with any certainty as you would a ship, by turning the helm contrary way, she in particular has a strain of the old de Burgh blood in her, like myself, and will eat her meat none the better for bidding.

The lady smiled, having possibly some of the de Burgh spirit, though not of their blood, or conscious that there was a virtue of self-assertion pertaining to her sex, which men miscalled contradiction. But it was time for them to rejoin their companions. By a silent gesture she signified that she understood Sir Godfrey's warning, and led the way back to where Le Hardi sat, still holding his fair neighbour in pleased and earnest converse. He rose from his seat as the elder dame approached, and, standing courteously at her side, addressed his conversation for a while to her exclusively, with the same easy and fluent grace with which he had secured at once the attention of the younger. Sir Godfrey, always embarrassed in his attempts to make himself agreeable to his ward, found himself doubly at a loss in the presence of the polished Crusader, whose conversational success he was watching with an admiration not unmixed with a very unreasonable jealousy.

Elfhild now laughingly rebuked her niece for having so long neglected her duties as a hostess, in not having offered their visitors the usual hospitalities of the tower. Sir Godfrey had

his own reasons for not declining them. Rich wine of Gascony, and delicate confections made by Elfhild's own hands-for here again she was Gladice's superior-were speedily set before them, and furnished Sir Godfrey with an excuse for silence, and the Crusader with further opportunities of unembarrassed conversation. Many a stirring tale of the wars, many a welcome fragment of information touching the fortunes of some absent warrior, known to them either in person or by fame, nay even more than one private anecdote of the redoubted Coeur-de-Lion himself -many a delicate conceit and graceful compliment flowed from his ready lips, to the delight of his fair listeners. What if he did use freely the license of the trouvère, and fill in the details of his story from the wealth of his own imagination? such has been the privilege of the good talker in all ages, whether professional or not; nay, even if some of the anecdotes themselves were the happy invention of the moment, in what golden age of social life did those who talked of their neighbours confine themselves to truth?

So fascinating was the Crusader's converse, so beautiful looked Gladice in her unwonted animation, so generous was the wine, that only the in

creasing gloom of evening warned Sir Godfrey that it was time to separate such excellent company. Successful, as it seemed, almost beyond his expectations, the knight was in the gayest humour, and found it difficult to conceal his own satisfaction within the prudent bounds which he had prescribed to Elfhild. He obtained the willing promise of both his kinswomen to honour him with their presence at a hunting-party early in the following week, and with a burst of courteous speeches, which rivalled his companion's in vigour if not in grace, requested their permission to order his train homewards. Both ladies thought it not unbecoming to accompany their guests as far as the main entrance, which opened from the upper story by a flight of steps into the outer court. Standing on the covered landing-place, they watched them take horse.

The Crusader twice bowed low, and waved his hand in graceful farewell, before he slacked the rein of his impatient sorrel. The gay train of horsemen, after the usual preliminary plunging and curveting, got into order and wound through the gates. Old Warenger was heard giving the word to raise the drawbridge, and make all safe for the night, and Willan's Hope looked doubly lonesome in the gathering darkness.

Sir Godfrey had evidently been at some pains in his preparations for his fair visitors at Ladysmede. Probably he had been indebted, in some of his arrangements, to the finer tastes of the Crusader. To say that there was no stint in all the coarser essentials of the banquet, that every accessible animal which furnished food for man had been put under requisition, from the stall-fed ox to the smallest marsh-fowl, whose excellence lay in its rarity, that the wines were costly, and the ale strong-would be only to say that the knight did not grudge, upon such an occasion, the entertainment which he was wont to lavish upon ruder guests. But both Gladice and her aunt were conscious of something in their reception which

was a refinement upon the usual blunt hospitalities of their kinsman. It seemed that some one had been stationed so as to give early notice of their approach, for they were met nearly a mile from the manor and escorted to their destination by the two knights in person, attended by a party of mounted lances, whose pennons were gay with the blue, buff, and silver, which were the colours of Bonville of Willan's Hope. The very slightness of the early refection which was served to them on their arrival, before the hunt began, was a shrewd token that other taste than Sir Godfrey's had been consulted in the contrivance of it; and Sir Nicholas' Gascon squire, who attended them with such quiet and dexterous service,

she scarcely looked like a being of earth. The peasant checked the execrations that were rising to his lips, and gazed at her with an awful reverence. Wonder and superstitious dread were stronger within him, for the moment, than either vengeance or self-preservation.

"Hold!" she cried, speaking with some difficulty from the violence of her emotion, "art thou mad? Fly -leave him to me! Fly, I bid thee!" she repeated, as the man still remained immovable, with his eyes fixed upon hers in stupid terror"if thou wouldst buy thy life for an hour!"

Slowly, at her word, removing his weight from the chest of his prostrate foe, who had now ceased to struggle, the peasant rose to his feet. Then starting as it seemed into some comprehension of his own danger, with the knife still in his hand, he rushed out through the open door.

If the pale vision which had thus interposed between them had startled Cuthwin, still more remarkable was the effect which it seemed to have produced upon his antagonist. The desperate efforts which he had been making, as far as his position would allow, to ward off the murderous aim of his assailant, had ceased at once, but not from exhaustion. His gaze, too, had been fixed with a sort of fascination on the form before him, and his whole frame shook with an emotion stronger than the Saxon's. Raising himself partly on one arm, as the other relaxed his hold, he too seemed to have lost at once all con

sciousness of the deadly struggle in which they had been engaged, and to have every sense and thought absorbed in this unexpected visitant. As Cuthwin rose and left him free, he half raised himself also, and then, as if weak and dizzy, sank back upon the osiers with a half-suppressed cry, and covered his face for a moment or two with his hand.

"Isola!" he half cried, half murmured-"Isola! again!"

When he withdrew his hand and opened his eyes, it was upon what seemed to him vacancy. She whom he had thought he saw was gone. He sprang up and looked wildly round him. It was not all a dream:

there lay the hound on the floor at his feet, writhing in the throes of death; his foot was on the hide of the deer.

"Isola!" he cried again, louder than before; but no voice answered. He rushed from the hut into the open air; a choking was in his throat, as if the peasant's murderous pressure were there still. The strong man felt sick and faint.

He opened the collar of his surcoat, and felt the cool fresh breeze revive him. Throwing back still further the thick buff leather from his panting chest, he saw the stain of blood on the vest beneath.

"By heaven," he muttered with a laugh as if to reassure himself, "it was well the churl had not force enough to drive his blow home!" He leant against a willow-stump, and seemed for a few moments as if trying to recall his thoughts. From this mood he was roused by the winding of a horn, and the shouts of some of the hunting-party at no great distance. He started to his feet, and casting an irresolute glance towards the hut, at first seemed hesitating whether he should re-enter it. But he turned away, and hastened back to the spot where he had left his steed; and remounting him, rode off in the direction in which he had heard the sounds. It was not long before he fell in with his own esquire and one or two others who had followed the chase by a more circuitous route, and were now engaged in recoupling the baffled hounds, after trying in vain to recover trace of the

stag had well-nigh lost myself in

"I

these villanous coverts," was all the remark he made to Dubois, as he galloped back to rejoin his companions. Sir Godfrey, finding himself at a disadvantage at starting, had not followed the chase far; and though he had by this time vented most of his wrath upon those about him, he was still in rather a bitter mood. It was some consolation to him, however, under his own disappointment, to find that those who had been more fortunate at the outset had returned at last unsuccessful; and he began at once to banter his guest on the subject. At any other