hee?"

"Young sir," replied the philosopher, gravely, "the fears and hopes
of power are not amidst the uneasier passions of the student's mind. I
pledged myself but to bear these papers hither, and to return with what
may be sent back."

"But thou didst this for love of the cause, the truth, and the right?"

"I did it partly from Hilyard's tale of wrong, but partly, also, for
the gold," answered Adam, simply; and his noble air, his high brow, the
serene calm of his features, so contrasted with the meanness implied in
the latter words of his confession, that Allerton stared at him amazed,
and without reply.

Meanwhile Henry had concluded the letter, and with a heavy sigh glanced
over the papers that accompanied it. "Alack! alack! more turbulence,
more danger and disquiet, more of my people's blood!" He motioned to
the young man, and drawing him to the window, while Adam returned to his
model, put the papers in his hand. "Allerton," he said, "thou lovest me,
but thou art one of the few in this distraught land who love also God.
Thou art not one of the warriors, the men of steel. Counsel me. See:
Margaret demands my signature to these papers; the one, empowering and
craving the levy of men and arms in the northern counties; the other,
promising free pardon to all who will desert Edward; the
third--it seemeth to me more strange and less kinglike than the
others--undertaking to abolish all the imposts and all the laws that
press upon the commons, and (is this a holy and pious stipulation?) to
inquire into the exactions and persecutions of the priesthood of our
Holy Church!"

"Sire!" said the young man, after he had hastily perused the papers, "my
lady liege showeth good argument for your assent to two, at least, of
these undertakings. See the names of fifty gentlemen ready to take arms
in your cause if authorized by your royal warrant. The men of the North
are malcontent with the usurper, but they will not yet stir, unless
at your own command. Such documents will, of course, be used with
discretion, and not to imperil your Grace's safety."

"My safety!" said Henry, with a flash of his father's hero soul in his
eyes--"of that I think not! If I have small courage to attack, I have
some fortitude to bear. But three months after these be signed, how many
brave hearts will be still! how many stout hands be dust! O Margaret!
Margaret! why temptest thou? Wert thou so happy when a queen?" The
prisoner broke from Allerton's ar