or: nor
did he want our expressions of gratitude; for he stopped us with a wave
of his hand:--

"No more, no more, I pray," said he. "The only thing that I do wish
you to do is promise me that, in case anything should happen me, ye
will ever be as true and faithful to my son, which is now Prince of
Wales, as ye have been to me. Stand by him through his youth, and
should any one--no matter who--wrong him, I wish ye now to swear to do
all in your power to avenge his wrongs. Now, gentlemen, are ye willing
to do this for your King?"

So there we swore, on the cross of his sword, to do that which the King
had asked of us; and when we bowed ourselves out of the royal presence
and went in search of the girls the thought furthest from our minds was
that we should ever be called upon to fulfil our oaths made to our King
that day.

Suddenly, as we were making our way slowly through the halls, Harleston
quickened his pace and, without one word, left me, and hastened
forward, almost at a run.

"I hope that our hard ride hath not turned my dear friend's mind,"
thought I, as I hurried after him. But when I turned a corner in the
corridor I learned the reason of his haste. There, a few paces down
the hall, and retreating from me, but with Frederick gaining rapidly
upon them, were Hazel and Mary, walking arm in arm, unconscious of
their pursuers--for by this time they had two. I reached them almost
as soon as did Harleston, so great was my anxiety lest I should be
considered negligent in finding them. When the maidens, hearing the
hasty steps behind them, turned and beheld us, both did utter little
screams of surprise. Then Mary quickly recovered herself and said:--

"Oh, dear Cousin Walter, I am so glad to see thee safe returned." And
then, as though less concerned, "And thee, Sir Frederick. I hope thou
hast come through the journey well, even though thou didst not have one
of those grand campaigns that you so glory in."

I left it to him to explain to her that we did have one of those
glorious "campaigns," of which she so sarcastically spoke; for I did
turn to greet the dearest maid which ever drew the breath of life.

"Walter, I am glad that thou hast returned safe," said she, after I had
told her when we did arrive, and how we came to be returned before the
others. "Thou knowest,"--although I did not--"I had such a fearful
dream about thee."

"Almost a confession," thought I.

"Methought I saw thee attacked b