rom a profound slumber.

"St George and the Virgin protect thee, honest friend!" said the
pilgrim, as he stood by an opening, just then performing the functions
of both door and chimney. Darby's perceptions being much impeded by the
smoke, he hastily approached the door. His surprise manifested itself
aloud, yet did he not forget a becoming reverence to the stranger, as he
invited him into the only apartment, besides his workshop, of which the
roof could boast. It served for parlour, bedchamber, and kitchen; where
the presiding deity, Grim's helpmate, carried on her multifarious
operations.

The officious housewife fetched a joint-stool, first clearing it from
dust, whilst her husband added a billet to the heap. She was just
preparing breakfast. A wooden porringer, filled to the brim with new
milk, in which oatmeal was stirred, a rasher of salted mutton, and a
large cake of coarse bread, comprised the delicacies of their morning
repast. To this, however, was added a snatch of cold venison from the
hall. "But this, you see," said the old woman, "is not of our own
killing; St Gregory forbid!--it comes from Dan there, who has the care
of the knight's buttery."

"Rot him for a churl!" said the smith; "Sir Osmund grudges every mouth
about him; but"--and here he looked wondrous knowing--"he may happen to
be ousted yet, if Earl Thomas should come by the worst in this cabal."

"Sir Osmund, I find, is no favourite with his neighbours."

"Hang him!" replied Grim, first looking cautiously into the shop;
"there's not a man of us but would like to see him and his countrymen
packed off to-morrow upon ass-panniers. They were spawned from the Welsh
ditches to help that overgrown Earl against his master. If Sir William
had been alive I had spoken out without fear. He was a loyal knight and
a true--he ever served his country and his king. But I bethink me that
peradventure ye may have heard of our late master's death, and who knows
but ye bring some token, pilgrim, to his lady?"

"Thou hast shrewdly guessed--I bear the last message that Sir William
sent to his lady; thinkest thou it may be delivered without the knight's
privity?"

"Save thee, father! peril betides him who would hazard a message to my
lady without her husband's leave."

"Is the Lady Mabel in health?--and the children?" inquired the stranger.

"Sorely did she grieve when tidings came of Sir William's death in the
great battle; but sorer still rues she her wedding