ll complete the story.

First, a quiet little village home, where a knight and his wife are
calmly passing the later half of life. The knight was rendered useless
for battle some years ago by a severe wound, resulting in permanent
lameness. In the chimney-corner, distaff in hand, sits the dame,--a
small, slight woman, with gentle dark eyes, and a meek, loving
expression, which will make her face lovely to the close of life.
Opposite to her, occupied with another distaff, is a tall, fair, queenly
girl, who can surely be no daughter of the dame. By the knight's chair,
in hunting costume, stands a young man with a very open, pleasant
countenance, who is evidently pleading for some favour which the knight
and dame are a little reluctant to grant.

"Sir Bertram, not one word would she hear me, but bade me betake me
directly unto yourself. So here behold me to beseech your gentleness in
favour of my suit."

"Lord de Audley," said the knight, quietly, "this is not the first time
by many that I have heard of your name, neither of your goodness. You
seek to wed my daughter. But I would have you well aware that she hath
no portion: and what, I pray you, shall all your friends and lovers say
unto your wedding of a poor knight's portionless daughter?"

"Say! Let them say as they list!" cried the young man. "For portion, I
do account Mistress Nell portion and lineage in herself. And they be
sorry friends of mine that desire not my best welfare. Her do I love,
and only her will I wed."

Bertram looked across at his wife with a smile.

"Must we tell him, Dame?"

"I think we may, husband."

"Then know, Lord James de Audley, that you have asked more than you
wist. This maid is no daughter of mine. Wedding her, you should wed
not Nell Lyngern, a poor knight's daughter; but the Lady Alianora de
Holand, Countess of Kent, of the royal line, whose mother was daughter
unto a son of King Edward. Now what say you?"

The young man's face changed painfully.

"Sir, I thank you," he said in a low voice. "I am no man fit to mate
with the blood royal. Lady Countess, I cry you mercy for mine ignorance
and mine unwisdom."

"Tarry yet a moment, Lord de Audley," said Bertram, smiling again; for
the girl's colour came and went, the distaff trembled in her hand, and
her eyes sought his with a look of troubled entreaty. "Well, Nell?--
speak out, maiden mine!"

"Father!" she said in an agitated voice, "he loved Nell Lyngern!"