" he commanded, addressing the badger.

The faithful animal, which had regarded the intruder with marked
disfavour, rolled itself up again in obedience to the command, and
remained in the corner watching the knight with glistening eyes.

"Nicholas," repeated Crowleigh, for he had not yet been noticed.
Nicholas turned slowly round, as if his ears had not deceived him,
but on seeing his friend and benefactor standing by his side, his face
lighted up with pleasure, and he quickly arose.

"My good friend, Everard," he exclaimed, as he warmly shook the
proffered hand, "thou art indeed a stranger here."

"Aye, I have a mission to thee," he replied.

"A mission," the hermit echoed. Art thou, then, the bearer of
ill-tidings to me? Is my safety jeopardised, or what? Tell me,
Everard, let me know it all. I have done no man evil that I wot
of--unless in these evil days it be wrong to visit the sick and the
afflicted; but I am ready for aught, even though it were instant
death."

"Nay, Nicholas," returned his friend, "thou art in a gloomy strain.
I am a messenger of peace; I bear good tidings to thee, not ill-news.
Thou must away with me at once."

"I cannot go; but see! my lamp is out. I must light it again. You
see how indifferent I am," he apologetically exclaimed, "I even fall
asleep over my prayers."

"Ha! I perceive thou art over-weary; take my advice for the once, and
do not rise so soon, nor pray so long."

"Ah, Everard, 'tis not that," replied the holy man; "I have not been
to my poor couch since yester morning. I have been praying through the
night for the speedy restoration of our holy Church."

"And see, whilst thou hast been sleeping I have saved thy life,"
interjected Everard; "but I must tell thee on my journey. I would have
thee accompany me back to Haddon."

"My poor pets!" exclaimed the hermit sorrowfully, as he lifted up the
stone; "they are all killed."

"'Tis a case of death, I fear," pursued Crowleigh, referring to the
father's illness.

"I fear it is," replied the other, looking ruefully at his dead pets.
"Thou hast killed my companions, Everard."

"Ugh! pretty companions, I trow," said the knight, scornfully; "but we
must hasten. I will acquaint thee with the whys and wherefores as
we go. Nay, never mind the lamp, thou can'st say adieu to that. Our
horses are tethered to a tree below, and thou must shrive a friend who
is at death's door--a priest. I have ridden throughout the livelong
day