last the King--such a lovely shade his mantle was! It's a
pity the Queen was not there too; I always think a procession's half
spoiled when there are no ladies."

"Oh, that's what you're clucking about, is it? Processions, indeed!"

"Aunt Isel, are you very cross, or what's the matter with you?"

"She's in pain, I fear," said Flemild quickly.

"Where's the pain? I've gathered some splendid fresh betony and
holy-thistle."

"Here!" said Isel, laying her hand on her heart.

"Why, then, holy-thistle's just what you want. I'll send you some down
by Stephen."

"Thank you. But it'll do me no good."

"Oh, don't you say that, now.--Flemild, I wonder you did not come to see
all the sights. You'll find you've not nearly so much time for pleasure
after you're married; don't look for it. Have you settled when it's to
be?"

"It was to have been last month, you know, but Father wanted it put
off."

"Ay, so as he could know Raven a bit better. Well, when is it to be
now?"

"March, they say."

"You don't say it as if you enjoyed it much."

"Maybe she takes her pleasure in different ways from you," said Isel.
"Can't see any, for my part, in going to see a lot of poor wretches
flogged and driven out into the snow. Suppose you could."

"O Aunt!--when they were heretics?"

"No, _nor murderers neither_--without they'd murdered me, and then I
reckon I shouldn't have been there to look at 'em."

"But the priests say they are worse than murderers--they murder men's
souls."

"I'm alive, for aught I know. And I don't expect to say my Paternoster
any worse than I did seven years gone."

"How do you know they haven't bewitched you?" asked Anania in a solemn
tone.

"For the best of all reasons--that I'm not bewitched."

"Aunt Isel, I'm not so sure of that. If those wretches--"

"O Anania, do let Mother be!" pleaded Flemild. "It is her pain that
speaks, not herself. I told you she was suffering."

"You did; but I wonder if her soul isn't worse than her body. I'll just
give Father Dolfin a hint to look to her soul and body both. They say
those creatures only bewitched one maid, and she was but a poor villein
belonging to some doctor of the schools: and so frightened was she to
see their punishment that she was in a hurry to recant every thing they
had taught her. Well! we shall see no more of them, that's one good
thing. I shouldn't think any of them would be alive by the end of the
week. The proclamatio