s.

"Nay, noble lord, frown not on me. There be moments when methinks two
spirits strive within me, and I am fearful of trusting even myself. I
would not that grief or sorrow should touch her through me. Let me come
and claim her anon, when I have grown to man's estate, and can bring her
lands and revenues. But bind her not to one whose fate may be beset with
perils and shadows. There be those amongst our bards who see into the
future; and they tell us that a dark fate hangs over the house of
Dynevor, and that we four shall be the last to bear the name."

Lord Montacute was looking grave and earnest. There was something in his
face which indicated disappointment, but also something that spoke of
relief. Possibly he himself had offered this troth plight with something
of hesitation, offered it out of gratitude to the noble lad, and out of
respect to his parents, who, as he saw, would prove valuable allies to
the English cause, could they but be induced to give their allegiance to
it. Yet there was another side to the picture, too; and Wendot was too
young for any one to predict with certainty what would be his course in
the future. The hot blood of his race ran in his veins; and though his
judgment was cool, and he saw things in a reasonable and manly light, it
would be rash to predict what the future might have in store for him.

"Well, lad, thou hast spoken bravely and well," said the Englishman,
after a pause for thought. "Perchance thy words are right; perchance it
will be well to let matters rest as they are for the present. We will
have no solemn troth plight betwixt ye twain; but the maid shall be
promised to none other these next four years, so that if thou carest to
claim her ere she reaches woman's estate, thou shalt find her waiting
for thee. And now I must say thee farewell, for tomorrow we ride away
the way we came. I trust to see thee at the king's court one of these
days, and to make known to his royal majesty the noble youth of Dynevor."

Wendot was left alone then for some time, pondering the strange offer
made to him, and wondering whether he had been foolish to refuse the
promised reward. He had never seriously thought of marriage, although in
those days wedlock was entered upon very young if there were any
advantage to be gained from it. A lad of fifteen is seldom sentimental;
but Wendot was conscious of a very warm spot in his heart for little
Gertrude, and he knew that he should miss her sorely wh