egarded, his heart had bounded with the thought
that when he should lay his trophies at her feet, Agnes would be
honoured for his sake. But Eustace's honours had been barren, and he
could only look back with a sad heart to the fancies of his youth, when
he had deemed Knight-errantry might win the lady of his love.

Eleanor had been one of the few who had known and loved the damsel of
Clarenham, and had encouraged her to lay aside her timidity. Agnes wept
for her as a sister, and still could hardly restrain her sobs, when
Eustace and his nephew were invited to the presence of the ladies to
narrate their melancholy tale.

Many tears were shed, and caresses lavished upon the orphan. The
ladies asked his destination, and on hearing that he was to be taken to
the Prince's court at Bordeaux, Agnes said, "We, too, are bound to the
Prince's court. I am to journey thither with Fulk. Were it not better
for Arthur to travel with us? Most carefully would we guard him. It
would spare him many a hardship, for which he is scarce old enough; and
his company would be a solace, almost a protection to me. My pretty
playfellow, will you be my travelling companion?"

"I would go with you, Cousin Agnes, for you are kind and gentle, and I
love you well; but a brave Knight's son must learn to rough it; and
besides, I would not go with Sir Fulk, your brother, for he is a false
and cruel Knight, who persecuted my blessed mother to the very death."

"Can this be? O speak, Eustace!" said Agnes. "What means the boy?
Hath Fulk shown himself other than a loving kinsman?"

The Baroness, who understood her step-son's character better than did
his young sister, and who was informed of the old enmity between the
two houses, felt considerable anxiety as to what they were now to hear;
when Eustace, beginning, "Ah, Lady, I grieve twice in the day to sadden
your heart; yet since so much has been said, it were best to relate the
whole truth," proceeded to tell what had passed respecting the wardship
of young Arthur. Agnes's eyes filled with burning tears of
indignation. "O dear Lady Mother!" cried she, "take me back to our
Convent! How can I meet my brother! How conceal my anger and my
shame!"

"This is far worse than even I feared," said Lady Muriel. "I knew Fulk
to be unscrupulous and grasping, but I did not think him capable of
such foul oppression. For you, my sweet Agnes--would that I could
prevail on him to leave you in the safe arm