ng from him she slipped off her cloak and sat down on the chair
which Dirk had placed for her at the table, reflecting in her heart that
she wished it had been Foy who rescued her from the wood thieves, and
not the more polished Adrian.

Afterwards as the meal went on she told the tale of their adventure.
Scarcely was it done when Adrian entered the room. The first thing
he noticed was that Elsa and Foy were seated side by side, engaged in
animated talk, and the second, that there was no cover for him at the
table.

"Have I your permission to sit down, mother?" he asked in a loud voice,
for no one had seen him come in.

"Certainly, son, why not?" answered Lysbeth, kindly. Adrian's voice
warned her that his temper was ruffled.

"Because there is no place for me, mother, that is all, though doubtless
it is more worthily filled by the Rev. Pastor Arentz. Still, after a man
has been fighting for his life with armed thieves, well--a bit of food
and a place to eat it in would have been welcome."

"Fighting for your life, son!" said Lysbeth astonished. "Why, from what
Elsa has just been telling us, I gathered that the rascals ran away at
the first blow which you struck with your staff."

"Indeed, mother; well, doubtless if the lady says that, it was so. I
took no great note; at the least they ran and she was saved, with the
others; a small service not worth mentioning, still useful in its way."

"Oh! take my chair, Adrian," said Foy rising, "and don't make such a
stir about a couple of cowardly footpads and an old hag. You don't want
us to think you a hero because you didn't turn tail and leave Elsa and
her companions in their hands, do you?"

"What you think, or do not think, is a matter of indifference to me,"
replied Adrian, seating himself with an injured air.

"Whatever my cousin Foy may think, Heer Adrian," broke in Elsa
anxiously, "I am sure I thank God who sent so brave a gentleman to help
us. Yes, yes, I mean it, for it makes me sick to remember what might
have happened if you had not rushed at those wicked men like--like----"

"Like David on the Philistines," suggested Foy.

"You should study your Bible, lad," put in Arentz with a grave smile.
"It was Samson who slew the Philistines; David conquered the giant
Goliath, though it is true that he also was a Philistine."

"Like Samson--I mean David--on Goliath," continued Elsa confusedly. "Oh!
please, cousin Foy, do not laugh; I believe that you would have l