er a packet tied with
string, and gave it to her.

"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers."

"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in
and take some repose."

With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate
the wilful beauty.

"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?"

"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she
rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat.

Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in
comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth.
Weary as he was, and--as soon appeared--wounded also, his nerve, shaken
by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan
face he sank into the nearest seat.

"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady
of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through
unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry.

"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm,
which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay,
and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the
lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good
compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with
Cromwell's snaphaunces."

Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which
she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a
manner more effective.

"_Remets-toi Alain, reprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est_,"
said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive.
"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting
sends he to his home?"

But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the
scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door
almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and
looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth.

"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old
friend."

The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for
a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet
could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses.
But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not
changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old l