nd then they did tell us
everything that had happened at court whilst we were away, and which is
generally known as court gossip and, as it could not interest you, my
dears, I will not put it down.

"See, I did not lose the charm thou gavest me when I left," I said, as
I drew it from its hiding-place, over my heart.

She noticed the locality in which it had been carried, and her color
heightened as I coolly put it back in its place, after I had let her
see it.

"Art not going to return it?" she asked in a tone which assured me that
she did not wish me to.

"Oh! no, I cannot tell what dangers may yet beset me; so I must keep it
still, that I may come safely through."

To this she raised no objection; so it stayed there till another day,
of which I will tell ye later.

Now I think I hear some one say, as he doth read these lines:--"Was he
not simple, not to see that Hazel loved him?" To this I reply in
advance, by reminding him to look back over his own experience--if he
hath been so fortunate as to have had one--and try to recall how he did
act, under the same trying circumstances. Then, if his memory will be
as fresh as is mine, he will remember the times when he was almost sure
that his lady loved him; yet, was there not a most tormenting
uncertainty, and a doubt that he might be over confident, and so, by
speaking too soon, he feared he might lose all? This I know was mine
experience, and I preferred, like a general with an uncertain force, to
wait until I should find some traitor within the strong fortress that I
was to take, and so make sure of victory by one short, quick stroke. I
now felt that I was winning over part of her garrison; still did I
prefer to make still more certain that I was not deceiving myself with
false hope.

Nor you, ye ones which have yet to experience this most perplexing, and
yet most delightful of engagements, be not too hasty in your judgment
of one--not the least distinguished of your house--for when ye are
placed in the position in which he here found himself, if you do not
feel, or act, any more foolish than did I, ye may congratulate
yourselves for having conducted the enterprise in the most advantageous
manner. However, in this case--but there, I am getting ahead of my
story.

When I look back from the mountain of peace and happiness, upon which I
am now sitting, and across the vale of years gone by, to that other,
sun-topped hill of youth, I do not regret that I am no