that little boy, Ernst
Verner. It was the last time I heard the voice of my beloved mother. I
saw her, yes, once, but oh! my heart sickens even now as I bring the
fearful vision to my sight.

CHAPTER TWO.

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

Master Gresham, leaving Richard Clough at his desk, took Ernst Verner by
the hand, and led him out of the room. They passed along a gallery with
a richly carved balustrade on one side, and portraits of burgomasters,
warriors, and stately dames, hanging from the wall on the other.
Opening a door, several female voices saluted them.

At one end of the room sat a tall and graceful lady, young and handsome,
with an embroidery frame before her. Her head-dress was a small sort of
hood, richly ornamented, with a veil falling behind. She had a long
waist with an embroidered stomacher, and a handsome girdle which hung
down in front. Her gown was open, showing a richly-decorated petticoat
beneath, so long as completely to hide her feet when she stood up on the
entrance of her husband, Master Gresham. On either side of the room
were several damsels with spinning-wheels and distaffs by their sides,
or else actively plying their needles. A little boy, fair and
delicate--a year or two younger than Ernst, he appeared--was playing on
the ground near the couch on which the lady sat, with some of those
wonderful toys for which Holland was already celebrated. The lady
looked up as Master Gresham approached.

"What child have you there, my dear lord?" she asked.

"One in whom perchance you will take an interest, Lady Anne, when you
hear his history," answered Master Gresham; and he detailed in a few
words the visit of the boy's mother, and her petition that the child
might be taken care of.

"We cannot refuse the charge which Heaven has sent us," answered the
lady. "He may be a companion and playmate to our little Richard, and I
doubt not a blessing to us, if we are faithful to our trust."

From that day forward Ernst became one of the family of Master Thomas
Gresham. In the house he had many amusements; but his life was a
somewhat dull one notwithstanding, for he was never allowed to go
abroad, unless in the company of his patron. The reason of this did not
occur to him. Master Gresham, however, acted wisely. He knew that
those who had seized the child's parents might seize the boy also, and
though from his youth he might escape death, he would certainly be
brought up as a Romanist--a pr