tendants, as I take it, are following; either ride back to them, or (if that which knights call courage, and churchmen pride, forbids you, then) tarry here with me till they come up."

"But how should you know this, Father?" asked Sir Rainald.

"Even thus, my son: I had been beyond the brook to give both bodily and ghostly consolation, with our Lady's help, at a cottage not far hence; and in returning I sat me down near the middle of yon wood by the side of an old oak. I had not rested long before I was aware that others were waiting there, though not with so good a purpose, besides myself. I was hidden from them, and they from me, so that I could only hear voices; but I heard more than enough to make me sure that mischief was intended. He that seemed to be their leader was constantly inquiring whether any were yet in sight, and once he mentioned your name. I thought that I knew the voice: God forgive me if I did any man wrong in so judging!"

"I know but of one that can by any chance bear me a grudge," returned the young knight, "and that rather from the Lady Edith's testimony than from my own knowledge. And, by my honour, it is I that ought to bear him ill-will, not he me; for in her, whom I love better than myself, he hath injured me much, yea, and that though he and I be near of kin."

"It is of Sir William Montacute, my son, that we both speak. Be ruled, I pray you; tarry here for your attendants, and do not trust yourself in the wood till you are better armed."

"At any other time, Father," returned Sir Rainald, "your advice, I fear me, would have been much misbestowed; but now, though I fear not for myself, I am not ashamed to fear for Edith. A man can die but once; but I would fain, if it be God's good pleasure, that that once were not until after to-morrow."

"If the sun dazzles not my eyes," said the priest, "I saw something that glittered on the very skirts of the wood. There it is again! and there once more!

Pancrati, ora pro nobis!"

Sancte

"You are right, Father," said the knight; "nothing ever so glittered but armour. If it comes to the worst, a good cause and a clear ground, with our Lady's help, might make up for fearful odds."

As he spoke, there was the twang of a bow in that part of the copse to which they had been looking, and which was at the distance of not more than fifty yards from them. And so good was the hand that sped it, and so true the eye that aimed it, that the point of the arrow quivered in the heart of Sir Rainald's horse. The knight had but just time to leap from the dying beast and to draw his sword, when, bursting from the wood, two knights rode down at full gallop upon him, followed by some thirty retainers.

"To the tree, to the tree, my son!" shouted the priest. "Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora pro nobis! I will stand by you to the last. Would I had a weapon! Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis! Call on the blessed saints, my son; there may be more with us than with them."

"I vow," said Sir Rainald, "two years' service in Holy Land against the Paynim, with fifty men-at-arms, if I come out of this with life!"

66

And I," said the Father, "will go with you-our Lady be my witness! Sancta Maria! they come." And covering his face with his hands, the infirmarer turned away, as the foremost knight, riding up, endeavoured with his lance to pin Sir Rainald to the tree, against which he had taken his stand. De Hellingley, with great agility, leaped out of the way the lance went three inches deep into the heart of oak; and as the knight's horse violently bore him on, Sir Rainald, with both hands, dealt him so mighty a blow on his right shoulder, that the mascled mail (for of that fashion the knight wore it) was clean cut through; and the

blood that poured down the hauberk shewed the depth of the wound. The right arm fell powerless to the side; and, as well as he could, the knight reined round his horse and rode up to his companions. The other knight, leaping to the ground, assaulted Sir Rainald with a shower of blows; and at the same time the retainers, for whom the latter had been waiting, appeared on the brow of the hill. Galloping forward with loud cries of "De Hellingley!" they poured on the assailants, and, in spite of their superior numbers, drove them back. Sir Rainald himself, borrowing the horse and the shield of one of his followers, threw himself into the midst of the combat: the disablement of their leader, and their evil cause, struck terror into them: and, after interchanging a few blows, the band, as by one consent, turned rein and rode into the wood. The wounded knight had already been led there; and there Sir Rainald proposed to follow them.

"Take my advice, my son," not force them to stand at bay. ance has been wrought for you: further danger."

said the Father, "and do This day a great delivertempt not God by seeking

you

"The Father says right, in my judgment," said Aymer the squire, who was with the party. "Let us ride on, Sir Rainald. These men merit not that should risk yourself in hunting them out: a stag, when he stands at bay, deserves fair play. But who ever heard of giving advantage to a fox ?"

"Be it so, then," cried De Hellingley. "But now, Father, you must mount yourself. We cannot leave you behind us. You have, I think, saved my life this day: and I trust to shew you, ere long, my gratitude."

"Talk not so, my son," returned the infirmarer. "What you owe, you owe to God and to our Lady, not to me: and that debt, I will trust, now that the danger is over, you will not defer to pay: I myself am bound in the same bond."

So saying, he mounted the horse that was offered him.

But his words seemed to have cast a gloom around the young knight; and he rode forward rather as a captive to prison, than as a bridegroom to the wedding.

Supper was half over, when a servant entering, informed Sir Julian that Sir Rainald de Hellingley was without, and craved license to speak with him.

Bid

"Bid him come in, bid him come in," said the knight. "I will speak with no man till I have eaten supper. him come in at once."

"He will wait without," said the servant, returning, 86 your lordship's leisure. But he will not come in till he hath spoken to you."

Happening at that moment to catch the eye of Edith, whom he dearly loved, the old knight answered its mute petition, saying, "Well, an it must be so, as well now as at any other time;" and he left the hall. He found Sir Rainald walking up and down the eastern passage, apparently ill at ease.

"I crave your pardon," said he, "Sir Julian: but as I have that to say to you which must be said ere I see the Lady Edith, I thought it better to request your presence here, than to make you wonder at my absence, when you knew that I had arrived."

"Out with it, in the foul fiend's name!" cried De Warrenn: "if you are weary of my child, say so at once; the Warrenns have no need-God be thanked therefor!— to crouch for any man's alliance; and they can revenge an injury with the best knight in Europe."

"You are unjust, Sir Julian de Warrenn,-you are unjust to Edith, to yourself, and to me. Listen first, and then judge. As I was riding here this day, my meinie being some way behind, it fell to my lot to be set on-wherefore I know not by two knights and some thirty retainers. To him that led them, I gave a mark that he will carry to his grave: but I had been elsewhere by this time than where I am, if my men had not come up at the moment when they did."

C

"Ay?" said De Warrenn, who forgot his anger in his interest. "Ay? I pray you, and where fell this out?"

But

Sir Rainald described the place, and then said: "Now listen: in the very midmost and heat of that danger, when I had scarce hope of coming out of it alive, being warned by a holy father, who stood by me the while, I made a vow that, in case I should come off with life and limb, I would serve in Holy Land against the Paynim for two years. It had been well in my power, Sir Julian de Warrenn, to have said no word of this until after tomorrow; and then, the Lady Edith being my own, this accident could not have separated her from me. such dealing I hold much misbecoming a knight, and still more so a soldier of the Cross; for as such must I now regard myself. Therefore I thought fit to give you your choice if Edith becomes my wife to-morrow, she goes with me; if not, and it must be years before that on which I have set all my earthly hopes takes place, better is it for both of us that we meet not this night. I have taken up the Cross, but I cannot throw away my heart: I may bear it joyfully, but still it will be right heavy."

"Give me your hand, Sir Rainald," cried De Warrenn. "You have herein acted like a belted knight: and I am but the more ready to give my daughter unto you; always providing that she herself consents. God shield I should do ought to hinder your vow! But come in to supper; which ended, you shall have free leave to speak with Edith."

The two knights entered the hall: Sir Julian explained that the cause of De Hellingley's delay was an accident. Edith's eyes seemed to ask a more particular explanation. "I will talk to you, sweetest one, anon," said Sir Rainald, as he took his seat by her: "I have much to ask, and you much to determine."

So passed the supper over; and, at its conclusion, the young knight craved from De Warrenn a few minutes with the Lady Edith. Bidding Bertha follow her, she took her