lers. Calling Master Clough, he and I, with
others, hurried to the door. Sir Thomas led the cavalcade, with a young
lady by his side. I had never, I thought, seen a more fair or graceful
girl, while I admired the perfect ease with which she managed the jennet
on which she rode. Who she was I scarcely dared to guess. She could
scarcely be the little Aveline from whom I had parted, and yet the
thought crossed me that it must be her.

Two young men followed,--one a strong, stout, broad-shouldered man,
whose features were wonderfully like those of my old friend A'Dale,
although somewhat concealed by beard and whisker. He formed a strong
contrast to the slight, pale, sickly youth at his side. A second glance
convinced me that the latter was my former playmate and companion--
Richard Gresham. He seemed very sick and ill, leaning forward in his
saddle, as if scarcely able to support his body. Master Clough hurried
out to assist Sir Thomas to dismount, while I hastened, with one of the
servants, to take the young lady's horse. The smile she gave me, as she
dropped lightly from her saddle, reminded me of Aveline.

"You do not know me, Ernst Verner," she said; "am I so woefully changed
since we parted?"

Her sweet voice sent a thrill through my heart. I had no longer any
doubt that she was Aveline. Meantime A'Dale had thrown himself from his
steed, and had helped Richard to the ground, giving him his arm to
support him. Sir Thomas greeted me kindly.

"He has not borne the journey as well as we had hoped," he said, looking
at Richard; "but the doctors advised change of air and scene, and we
trusted that a short sea-voyage, and a visit to this busy city, might
benefit him. Aveline has kindly come to assist in caring for him, and I
have taken your old friend Andrew A'Dale into my service."

Poor Richard looked kindly at me as he took my hand; but he scarcely had
strength, it seemed, to smile. A'Dale and I greeted each other
heartily, and together we assisted our young friend up the stairs. He
could not, indeed, without aid, drag himself along; but youth is
buoyant, and both he and we were soon talking of what we would do when
he had regained his strength. Aveline was committed to the charge of
our old housekeeper--Dorothea Lipman, with whom she had some difficulty
in holding conversation; Dorothea's only language being Flemish, of
which Aveline knew but little.

After a night's rest, Richard had considerably r