d caused him to be supplied were almost consumed,
and it was not till she had made some observations on the journey that he
became at ease enough to hazard any sort of answer, and then it was in
his sweet low Scottish voice, with that irresistibly attractive look of
shy wistful gratitude in his great soft brown eyes, while his un-English
accent caused her to say, 'I am a stranger here, like yourself, my Lord;'
and at the same moment he first raised his eyes to behold what seemed to
him perfect beauty and dignity, an oval face, richly-tinted olive
complexion, dark pensive eyes, a sweet grave mouth smiling with
encouraging kindness, and a lofty brow that gave the whole face a
magnificent air, not so much stately as above and beyond this world. It
might have befitted St. Barbara or St. Katherine, the great intellectual
virgin visions of purity and holiness of the middle ages; but the
kindness of the smile went to Malcolm's heart, and emboldened him to
answer in his best French, 'You are from Holland, lady?'

'Not from the fens,' she answered. 'My home lies in the borders of the
forest of Ardennes.'

And then they found that they understood each other best when she spoke
French, and Malcolm English, or rather Scotch; and their acquaintance
made so much progress, that when the signal was again given to mount, the
Lady Esclairmonde permitted Malcolm to assist her to her saddle; and as
he rode beside her he felt pleased with himself, and as if Ralf Percy
were welcome to look at him now.

On Esclairmonde's other hand there rode a small, slight girl, whom
Malcolm took for quite a child, and paid no attention to; but presently
old Sir Lewis Robsart rode back with a message that my Lady of
Westmoreland wished to know where the Lady Alice Montagu was. A gentle,
timid voice answered, 'O Sir, I am well here with Lady Esclairmonde. Pray
tell my good lady so.'

And therewith Sir Lewis smiled, and said, 'You could scarcely be in
better hands, fair damsel,' and rode back again; while Alice was still
entreating, 'May I stay with you, dear lady? It is all so strange and
new!'

Esclairmonde smiled, and said, 'You make me at home here, Mademoiselle.
It is I who am the stranger!'

'Ah! but you have been in Courts before. I never lived anywhere but at
Middleham Castle till they fetched me away to meet the Queen.'

For the gentle little maiden, a slender, fair-haired, childish-faced
creature, in her sixteenth year, was the motherl