OLDIE

r on till lost among the moors. Presently they ascended Stoney Cross Hill and there opened out one long view. On the northeast rose the hills of Winchester but

before his death, and down in the valley was the spot where he is said to have fallen. The road now became a long avenue of trees-beeches with their smo

general design of the castle was a parallelogram defended by a round tower at each of the angles with an Anglo-Saxon keep. The entrance through a vaulted passageway was its most striking feature. Of the time of the first Edward, there were si

own to an idle brook now stopped up by water-lilies and white crowfoot. The fair corn lands sloping to the southeast so as to 19 miss no gleam of morning or noonday sun; the fat

, the fields, the exquisite landscape in the distance made an ass

f scene or sky, and she hurried toward the Hall with so qu

g. "Age hath stolen my vigor and I cannot walk as thou canst. Already thou hast made me plod many a weary

n. Thou knowest my 20 skill with the bow, and thou didst see the deer fall under my shaft; yet thou didst s

have had to suffer fine and impriso

"If I offend against the law then 'twere meet that I sh

re on her way. Through the great doors, which were of weathered oak thickly studded with nails, over which hung the family coat of arms, a shield, azure, three quatrefoil

floors were freshly strewn with rushes, the walls were hung with rich tapestries representing stories from the classics. The upper end contained an oriel window under which was a fringed dais. On one side of the apartment was a huge fireplace over which the ancestra

stering for the midday meal. Francis threaded her way through the crowd of yeomen to the door of

, and then paused for she saw t

em was very striking. "I had just asked for you. This is my child, Fortescue. She of

He was arrayed in a blue velvet jerkin with hose of the same material. A large beaver hat with a long feather in it lay on the table. A rapier depending f

e welcome,

was shrewd?" asked Lord S

turned the guest. "My child, do you no

not notice thy dress, 23 but judged from thy manner. Nathless, pri

y praise that thou didst accost me as an holy man. My

rare degree in a maid. I know no lad of her age that can equal her in hunting or hawking.

cis eagerly. "Yet a lad did but now contend that he it was who sh

t it contents me well that the lad should endure the penalty of the deed in

n him, though he was but meanly garbed. Yet the appa

acquiesced L

ve claimed the deer. I would, good my father, that you compass his rel

penalty. There are matters of grave import that

girl in surprise. "Fathe

import of the matter. Greville, thou standest like a hind. Give greet

aid Greville bowing. "As my l

liar, Master Greville," and the soldier

me. It was mine abode for a tim

rching look at the old man. "But howsoe'er that may

emy of the queen,"

exclaimed Lo

e soldier. "My life, my service, my all is

y, Elizabeth," return

m," interposed Lord Stafford hastily. "Come to me

word withdrew from the roo

thought our guest a priest?" queried Francis w

nk," quoth Greville sententiously. "You spoke t

uriously. "Why comes he then in such array? Are

the kingdom, and felony to harbor them? And, forsooth, there is much reason for such a law. So many have

t come to the ears of the queen that

ut, by my life, girl! we dally too long. Away! and set a guard upon thy lips. If thou canst c