t a riddle to Malcolm, but his reverence
for her made him lay them up deeply, as he watched her kneeling at the
Mass, her upturned face beaming with an angelic expression.

His mind was much calmed by this meeting. It had had an absolutely
contrary effect to what King James had expected, by spiritualizing his
love, and increasing that reverence which cast out its earthliness. That
first throb which had been so keen at meeting, and knowing her not for
him, had passed away in the refining of that distant worship he had paid
her in those days of innocence.

Lady Montagu was quite satisfied with him now. He was the Malcolm of her
first acquaintance, only without his foolish diffidence, and with a
weight and earnestness that made him a man and not a boy; and she
cordially invited him to bring his sister with him, and rest, on the way
southward. He agreed most thankfully, since this would be the only
opportunity of showing Esclairmonde and Lilias one to the other, as well
as one of his own few chances of seeing Esclairmonde.

Once they must meet, that their promises might be restored the one to the
other; but as the betrothal remained the lady's security, this could not
be done till she became pledged at St. Katharine's. When the opportunity
came, she was to send Malcolm a messenger, and he would come to her at
once. Until then he promised that he would not leave Great Britain.

On Monday the cousins proceeded, coming after a time to the route by
which Malcolm had ridden three years before, and where he was now at home
in comparison with Patrick. How redolent it was with recollections of
King Harry, in all his gaiety and grace, ere the shock of his brother's
death had fallen on him! At Thirsk, Malcolm told of the prowess and the
knighthood of honest Trenton and Kitson, to somewhat incredulous ears.
The two squires had been held as clownish fellows, and the sentiment of
the country was that Mistress Agnes was well quit of them, and the rough
guardianship by which they had kept off all other suitors. As mine host
concluded, ''Tis a fine thing to go to the wars.'

Hearing that Kitson's mother lived not a mile out of his way, Malcolm
rode to the fine old moated grange, where he found her sitting at her
spinning, presiding over a great plentiful household, while her second
son, a much shrewder-looking man than Sir Christopher, managed the farm.

The travellers were welcomed with eager hospitality so soon as it was
un