t it seemed as if he
would kill it before her. Griselda said:

"Pray, sir, do thou suffer me to kiss my child ere it die." He gave it
back to her. Gently she gathered it in her arms. She blessed it, and
lulled it, and kissed it. Then she said in her sweet voice: "Farewell,
my child, I shall see thee never again. The blessing of Him who died
on a cross of wood for us, rest on thee. To Him I give thy soul, my
little one! To-night thou must die because of me."

To the rough soldier she said:

"Take again the child and obey my Lord. But if it please my Lord, then
of thy kindness bury thou the little body where no cruel bird nor
beast can harm it!"

But in silence the soldier carried away the child.

Then Lord Walter looked to see if Griselda would fret or be less kind
to him. He watched, but could see no change in her. She was as busy
and loving and cheerful as ever. Neither in earnest nor in play did
she name her child.

After four years a son was born to Griselda. The people were very glad
because there was now an heir to rule the land at the death of Lord
Walter. Griselda too was happy, though her heart longed for the
little maid who might have been playing with her brother.

When the boy was two years old, Lord Walter began to wish once more to
try the patience of Griselda.

This time he said to her:

"Wife, I have told thee before how ill the people bear our marriage.
Now that a son is born they are more wrathful than before. My heart is
weary with the thought of their complaints. They say, 'When Lord
Walter is gone, the grandson of Janicola shall rule us!' Therefore I
shall do with my son as I did with his sister. Be patient, I pray
thee."

"Thou art my Lord," said Griselda. "My will and my freedom lie in my
father's cottage with the poor soiled clothes I left there on the day
thou didst bring me hither. Could I know thy will before thou didst
tell it to me, it would be done, though it were death to do it. Life
cannot compare with thy love."

Lord Walter looked down to the ground. He could not look at his wife
lest he should not have heart to do as he wished.

Again the rude soldier came to Griselda. He was even harsher than
before, and carried off the child without a kind word to the patient
mother.

When the little boy was gone, the people said very bitter things about
Lord Walter. The love they had given him before was turned into hatred
because he had treated his beautiful wife so unkindly, and b